rearend question

[marco100]

Where would the grease go if you dont have any leaks? Just filled up the rear axle about a week ago and it was empty today. Also, does the rearend make any noises when going out? It also had a virbation when taking off. its an 8.8 rear axle, in an explorer. The only reason i ask here is because you guys seem to know alot about cars here.

[doommarine44]

They make lots of noises, I had a 98 mustang i bought from atlanta auto auction it sounded quite sometimes, and ungodly awful others.. I am not sure but i suppose that if its going out it could burn up the oil... but rule is if its making noise.. get a new rear end..! It silenced the 98 mustang.. super quite

[kmathew]

Hey:

If you filled it up a week ago and it's empty now, man it's got to be going somewhere. There is only two places it can be going.

It's either leaking around the seal on the housing cover, or out through the axle tubes which means that one or both of your axle seals are bad.
If this is the case you will have 90 weight grease all over your rear break pads and drums. If it emptied out check the inside of your rear wheels and tires. They should be covered in rearend oil.

Good Luck

[marco100]

well, i know one thing now, it does not leak. seems it was never filled up all the way. but it still has the vibration when taking off, but only when you are on the gas hard. if you take off easy its ok. it kind of feels like that thing on the side of the highway (that wakes you up if you run off on the shoulder.) any ideas? still looking for a rear end, they are hard to find around here.

[kmathew]

Originally Posted by marco100

well, i know one thing now, it does not leak. seems it was never filled up all the way. but it still has the vibration when taking off, but only when you are on the gas hard. if you take off easy its ok. it kind of feels like that thing on the side of the highway (that wakes you up if you run off on the shoulder.) any ideas? still looking for a rear end, they are hard to find around here.

OK, If it's not leaking and you feel it was never filled all the way up you may have damaged the rear end gears or possible the wheel bearings.


Then too it might not be the rearend at all. You said it sounds like when your running off the side of the road. That sounds to me like a universal joint going bad. Does it have kind of a whiring sound to it.

Pull your parking brake and put the tranny in neutral. Jack the car up and try to rotate the drive shaft by hand. If it's the universal joint you will have a little bit of play in it. (slack) With the parking brake pulled the rear tires will not rotate. There will be a little movement on the shaft coming out of the rearend, but it should;nt be excessive. Check the universal joint for damage. The univeral joint has four caps on it. Up inside them are a whole butt load of needle bearings. Make sure they are still there. If you have lost some of the needle bearings it will throw the drive line out of balance and that could cause the sound your describing.

The universal joint would be a whole lot cheaper to replace then a rearend. If it is the rearend don't replace it, just rebuild it.



Good Luck

[marco100]

ok, i will do that as soon as the ground dries up some. would the u-joint make it do that only when it is taking off?