96 S15 jimmy rear end noise

Hello everyone.

I have a96 s15 jimmy sls 2dr 2wd.with 96,000 miles
I have started to notice a grumbling noise/ vibration at low speeds in the rear end of my jimmy the grinding noise kind of fades into a whine at speed. from a dead stop all the way up to 65mph I hear a whining noise it does not change when i lift up or press down on the gas pedal .

I was thinking it was the differential but now I am leaning torward the axle bearings ? any Ideas?

I would like to get some input before I start tearing into the old girl.


TIA
Carmine B

if it was the diff gears you can change noise with pedal pressure. check the u-joints before getting too caried away. go ahead and change the wheel bearings they're not too hard to change you'll probably need a slide hammer to get the races out you can rent them at most parts stores. if there are bad bearings in the diff you'll probably see metal fragments when you take the pan off

I'm having a simular problem in my 93 Jimmy. (Auto Trans) Mine however is a squealing noise. When I accelerate.. it squeals. If I accel more, it squeals more. If I stomp on the gas it'll squeal for a second but that is it.
It doesn't squeal in Reverse.. only the forward gears.
My Trans fluid is full, I'm thinking perhaps it is the differential. There seems to be a leak in the Differential.
Does this sound like the problem? Should I drain and fill the Differential?
Or is it something else?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Hearts88

if it was the diff gears you can change noise with pedal pressure. check the u-joints before getting too caried away. go ahead and change the wheel bearings they're not too hard to change you'll probably need a slide hammer to get the races out you can rent them at most parts stores. if there are bad bearings in the diff you'll probably see metal fragments when you take the pan off

I got the same grinding noise when I drive. It is more noticeable at lower speeds and seems to have a rhythmic pattern which seems to correspond with the tire speed. I jacked up the rear end of my car and it seems my rear axle has some play in it. I can feel it popping as I move it up and down, left and right. Does anyone know the what torque you are suppose to set the bearings at?

Rear bearings are pressed and have no torque but what everyone in this thread with a problem should do is change out their diff fluid and see if it helps, if not check the rear brakes.

I changed my rear diff. fluid twice. Once when I changed the pinion seal and another time when I replaced the rear wheel bearing seals. I still got the grinding noise. I think it is coming from the differential. The grinding sound I am hearing happens every time the wheel turns 5 to 10 turns. I can't really tell since the wheels turn so fast. When I replaced the rear axle bearings I checked the brakes and cleaned them all up. They seem to be fine. Plus if it was the breaks I would think I would hear the noise every time the wheel turns.