Rear diff making a popping noise

[Steven]

Had a problem with this for a little while. Just replaced the pinion seal and housing gasket to stop a leak (Thought the noise was from low fluid levels) gotten a lot better after that, but now when making turns there's a pop that vibrates the whole truck. Can feel it in the cab. The harder the turn the worse the pop gets. Pops forward and backward. Seems worse in reverse though. Lot louder and just noticeable to me. Wheel bearings have almost no slack. Same with pinion bearing.

 

[Camar068]

No idea but curious. My 68 Camaro used to do the same, trying to get educated on front/rear ends.

 

[bucket]

So you just had the cover off? Did you notice if there was a locker in there? If it's open rear end, it might be close losing the spider gears and/or grenading the carrier.

 

[throttle out]

My 12 bolt in my 87 4x4 does this as well. Kinda feels like the locker isn't fully disengaging but the tires don't chirp.

 

[Steven]

Im pretty sure its a limited slip. Dont really know much about them. 1 thing I did notice was the rod that holds the clips for the axles. when just turning one wheel there would be a point where it would pull itself in just a hair then pop back out. Only does so when turning one wheel. Turned both and never saw it happen. This is the first time I've ever had trouble with it. All the gears seem pretty good too. No metal shavings or teeth missing from what I saw. All the springs looked intact too

 

[donnieray]

If it has a limited slip unit installed the wrong gear oil will make it pop, chatter and vibrate when turning. At least mine will. I have an Eaton unit in my 12 bolt rear. new synthetic gear oil brought all the noises after changing. I refilled it with dino oil and limited slip additive and all the snaps and pops went away.

 

[Steven]

I'm assuming that's the same thing that was wrong with mine too. It is a LSD and I used to just fill it with the autozone 80-90 gear oil without anything else. I put 64 ounces of the Lucas Oil LSD oil in it then topped it off with the autozone crap and it seems to have went away. Never would have thought the wrong oil would make it do that.

 

[throttle out]

interesting.

 

[highdesertrange]

if you are running a limited slip with clutches you need the additive some of the synthetics will work without the additive. read the label. highdesertranger