Rear end grinding...

Hello,

My 2002 Trailblazer LTZ has about 13500 miles. When ever I make a left turn from a stop, I feel and hear a grind that lasts about a second from the driver side rear wheel. It can be felt throughout the vehicle. It does it more after extended amounts (30 minutes or more) of highway driving. Is there anything I can check? Im going to take it in to the dealer for a service and state inspection in about a week or so but am curious if I can pinpoint the problem before I take it to them. It does not grind going straight from a stop or while turning right. Could something be loose, broken, etc? I've had it offroad once, mud only with some minor rut action...nothing that rough...Thanks for any help/advice.

Brad

That's the differential. It may need to be serviced. I had a caprice that had this, and it was normal. I haven't had it happen with my TB though. There is a special additave that they may put in there to quiet things up.

I had the same problem and they had to replace the rear pinion gears. I believe it is called the rack and pinion gears in the rear differential.

Rack and pinion is a steering system. Do you mean ring and pinion?

Do you have a locking rear differential? I feel a vibration in mine under the same circumstances but just assumed it was normal. Some differentials, like "Detroit Lockers", make a lot of noise when one wheel spins faster than another... I'm curious to hear what the dealer said.