Just re-geared.. Whirling noise normal?

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

98 5.9 zj.. HPd30 & Trussed D44a

I just had both axle's completely rebuilt.. 4.56 gears and an open carrier in the rear, Lunchbox up front..

My gear guy suggested the spiders were Really tight, and would likely be noisy for awhile..

I have finally drove the jeep for the first time tonight, (gears were done out of rig) and i have a howling noise.. it starts around 20mph and progresses as i go (2wd) does a tight Spider gear setup cause this? I'm concerned it is likely a pinion bearing or carrier bearing :wave1: Also whirls when coasting to a stop.. almost sounds like a Go-kart

 

[XJLI]

what brand gears? higher gears make noise.

 

[MoparManiac]

Sorry but I disagree. My 4.88s were dead quiet.

The spiders shouldn't be hard to turn. There are thrust washers behind them. He may have thrown in two sets by accident?

 

[RCP Phx]

Its not the spider gears,they dont even move when driving in a straight line.

 

[87manche]

change the fluid in 200 miles, look for metal.

Sometimes gears are just noisy when they're first installed and break in. Sometimes they're noisy from the install.

How much do you trust the guy that did the install?

 

[WAD357]

might sound stupid but there is fluid in the axles right? Ive heard of people forgeting fluid more then once

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

Yes. level in both axle is full. T-case is full.

The guy that did the gears is going to check it out this evening.. I also have a slight vibe on Decelleration (coasting) and i think it might be my pinion angle in the rear (no sye)

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

Replaced both rear U-joints. Changed pinion angle, Now i have eliminated the vibe, but the howl has not changed..

My gear guy is being very cool about it, I am installing a spartan locker tomorrow, and plan to check the fluid thoroughly..

 

[Team Willys]

If the pattern is off or the backlash is incorrect, it will cause howling. Does it do it all the time, on decel, accel, or just coasting?

I don't know the guy or anything about him so I can't make a good judgement call, but I would say its likely that the rear setup wasn't the best and that's causing the noise. NOW, it may not be his fault... I have done many many sets of gears, and sometimes no matter what you do, it just won't get to that "sweet spot." He may really know what he is doing and you just happened to get an uncooperative set of gears, or he has no idea how to do it and he just thought he was good at it. But in any case, its not the spiders causing the issue. What brand were the gears?

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

The guy does this for a living, Differentials, Transfercase's and transmissions. Although transmissions are his main bread and butter, He has built 3-4 sets of axles over the last two weeks since i got mine back. He's currently building another D30 with ARB etc etc for a customer. I am 100% confident in his skills, but No man is perfect, He could have it slightly off, I know that he "went by the books" and brought all the "numbers to spec" He has a build sheet for each axle, every tolerance, torque spec ect was noted. He wrote a couple of numbers on the pinion etc etc..

The Gear brand Is Nitro gear

 

[whitexj98]

Has anyone tried any additives or different weights of fluid to help with gear noise? I installed my gears and the rear is dead quite but the front makes some noise. I have put over 1,000 miles on them and no metal or other issues but the noise is just annoying.

 

[zr2toxj]

I had mine done, front ARB with 4.56's and they are dead quiet. I'd have him re-check the pattern before you get too many miles on them. From what I understand, once they start wearing a pattern the noise will always be there.

 

[jeepboy381]

I put 4.88 nitro gears in my XJ recently and the front dana 30 gears howled so loud that the second I hit 20mph 100 feet from the shop I turned around and pulled the axle back out of the truck. Had the gear guy look at them that set them up and he said everything was fine. I then took it to another gear guy and told him to do everything over agian and check it out. Put it back in my Jeep and it still made the noise. We decided to just keep driving the Jeep and 4000 miles latter the noise is quieter but still there. Both gear guys did not like the dana 30 Nitro gears and said to buy something different next time. But they said the 8-1/4 gears setup really well.

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

I put 4.88 nitro gears in my XJ recently and the front dana 30 gears howled so loud that the second I hit 20mph 100 feet from the shop I turned around and pulled the axle back out of the truck. Had the gear guy look at them that set them up and he said everything was fine. I then took it to another gear guy and told him to do everything over agian and check it out. Put it back in my Jeep and it still made the noise. We decided to just keep driving the Jeep and 4000 miles latter the noise is quieter but still there. Both gear guys did not like the dana 30 Nitro gears and said to buy something different next time. But they said the 8-1/4 gears setup really well.

See, i am thinking the nitro's are just loud.. I installed my spartan rear locker tonight, and the noise seems to be no different... I have noticed that it's pretty quiet untill you coast.. and then it turns into a whirling noise. you can hear the noise winding up and then when you let off the gas, is when its more apparant

I did the locker install right at about 300miles. The fluid had a slight dark hue and very fine metal sparkles.. but other then that.. No chunks, or even slivers.

 

[whitexj98]

My quite rear gears were motive and the noisy fronts were nitros... mine has a weired issue though, if i put it in 4 hi the noise almost completley goes away, like loading them quites them down? I would be interested if yours is similar.