HELP! New gears whining

stock89 · 03-11-2002, 01:29 PM

All,
With the assistance of an very knowledgeable mechanic, myself and a buddy replaced our gears to 3:55's. During light acceleration, (was told first 300 miles don't drive hard) it sounds fine, no noise. However, when you let off the gas with it in gear, it does whine quite a bit. The gears need to wear in a little bit don't they? We checked the gearlash and a bunch of other things this guy knew about that I was clueless on. He said they might whine until they get a few hundred miles on them, is this true/natural?

Nervously awaiting your response,
Rob

DRASTiK · 03-11-2002, 01:50 PM

I'm no rear end expert, but you're describing the same thing I went through when I had mine professionally installed. They whined some when they were breaking in. I think it's just the ring and pinion wearing the grooves in each other and when they break in, then it goes away. I'm guessing that's why you also hear cars whine in reverse often, even when they've got many miles on them. I've had my gears now for almost a year, and the only time I hear them is when I'm in reverse. Just break them in properly (my Richmond gear instructions said to drive for 10 easy miles, then let them cool for 30 minutes, and then repeat that two more times. That's all.) and the noise should go away or at least get much quieter.
Dave

Mr 5 0 · 03-11-2002, 04:25 PM

Did you add the 'friction modifier' lube or use a rear gear oil that contained it? That could be a factor but if it isn't, then just give them time to wear in.

theforce · 03-11-2002, 05:56 PM

If it persists take it back to the installer and have him recheck the back lash.

exgmguy · 03-11-2002, 07:17 PM

If gears in an 8.8 are installed properly they should not whine. If they are not set up perfectly they will whine a little, but most likely will be nothing to worry about.

I have never seen gears quiet down though.

stock89 · 03-11-2002, 10:15 PM

Yeah, I added the appropriate Friction Modifier. The whining seems to have slightly gone away since I've put about 15 miles on it, but it still resonates when you are coasting down a hill with the beast in gear. Other than that it doesn't whine. Scary, some people say it's messed up. Others say it's normal. AGH! That's it, I'm pulling out the wuigui board.... LOL

andy669 · 03-11-2002, 10:17 PM

Rob, were the gears new or used? Are they FMS, or some other brand? Do you remember setting proper pinion depth, or did you just reuse the original pinion shim?

I agree with EXGMGUY, I have never seen gears get quieter either.

andy

blk88lx · 03-11-2002, 11:37 PM

All,

I'm the other guy that had the 3.55's installed. We set the backlash to 12000's of an inch. Gears are loud. no sound to about 40 mph then the whine. also whine when I use the engine to slow the car down. The gears were new from summit, we reused our bearings. All bearings looked real good. This is scaring the heck out of me. Have only gone about 5 miles w/the car. Dont know what I should do.

And I wasn't the knowlegeable mechanic - he says we should wait and they'll calm down after 100 or so miles. Another local guy told me that we could wreck the gears if we keep driving the cars.

Jayson

crazy5.0 · 03-12-2002, 12:35 AM

I had a similiar problem and when I had the gears finally checked out for whinning it was to late. The gears were wornout and had to be raplaced.

blk88lx · 03-12-2002, 09:01 AM

So can anyone tell me what the fix is?

Jayson

gsxkilla · 03-12-2002, 12:55 PM

that kinda makes me worry b/c i would like to put 3.55 gears in my car but i dont want them to mess up like that is this normal??
ryan

Coolbreeze · 03-12-2002, 10:41 PM

Was the proper preload set on the pinion bearings?? If it is set to tight that might be the whines when up to speed... Sorta like a wheel bearing when it is set to tight.

stock89 · 03-12-2002, 11:02 PM

My gears seem to be getting quieter, they only whine when in gear and coasting down a hill. I only drive about 1 mile at a time since work is close by, so the gears haven't had adequate time to heat and cool, wearing into each other. As Jayson said, we used the bearings that were in there. We used the original pinion shim, and set the new crush collar in and set to 2/1000th on the pinion depth. The gears are/were new from Summit, their tech line guys say we're screwed. The guy who assisted us said it's fine. I appreciate your comments- I'll post to let you all know how it turns out, regardless.

scurr3165 · 03-13-2002, 03:48 PM

I started hearing a whining noise in the rear end of my car also, so I took it to a rear-end specialist. He took it for a drive and told me my bearings were shot and my clutches might be gone. I dropped it off at the shop today to get a bearing change and take my 2.73 out and put 3.73. I pick it up Friday and I'll let you know how it goes. This guy has been doing rear-ends for 36 yrs. and that's all he does. I've been told by several people he's the best...............

93 Cobra needs input · 03-14-2002, 05:42 PM

I replace the gears in my 93 Cobra to 3.73 and had a similar problem. Bought new FMS gears from summit myself and a good mechanic installed them by the book drove it and had a small whine. Drove it for a 100 miles or so still had it. Ended up taking the rear apart and reshimming the pinion 5 or 6 thousands more and the noise went away completely. Good luck with your gears I have heared that the higher the gears (4.30) the more noise you get along with them.

stock89 · 03-14-2002, 10:38 PM

blk88LX is going to get his looked at by a "rear end specialist" *snicker* to see what the whining problem is.

I'm going to hold off to see what his prognosis is. I have a feeling I'll end up re-shimming next weekend. I've drove about 100 miles and have had a decent amount of quieting, but it's not all gone yet.

I did hear from one gear guy that most installers run the rar w/o the speedo gear in at the shop (wear gears in, so car owner never hears the whining, yet doesn't rack miles on the car). Not sure if that's standard practice or not, but...

03-11-2002, 01:29 PM	#1
stock89 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mannheim, Germany Posts: 124	HELP! New gears whining All, With the assistance of an very knowledgeable mechanic, myself and a buddy replaced our gears to 3:55's. During light acceleration, (was told first 300 miles don't drive hard) it sounds fine, no noise. However, when you let off the gas with it in gear, it does whine quite a bit. The gears need to wear in a little bit don't they? We checked the gearlash and a bunch of other things this guy knew about that I was clueless on. He said they might whine until they get a few hundred miles on them, is this true/natural? Nervously awaiting your response, Rob __________________ 89 LX 5.0 Notchback, FINALLY NO LONGER STOCK!

03-11-2002, 01:50 PM	#2
DRASTiK Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Yuma, AZ Posts: 536	I'm no rear end expert, but you're describing the same thing I went through when I had mine professionally installed. They whined some when they were breaking in. I think it's just the ring and pinion wearing the grooves in each other and when they break in, then it goes away. I'm guessing that's why you also hear cars whine in reverse often, even when they've got many miles on them. I've had my gears now for almost a year, and the only time I hear them is when I'm in reverse. Just break them in properly (my Richmond gear instructions said to drive for 10 easy miles, then let them cool for 30 minutes, and then repeat that two more times. That's all.) and the noise should go away or at least get much quieter. Dave __________________ Dave 88 GT - 13.4@106 on street tires (2.2 60ft) My Stang RHC member #75 My stang is FOR SALE!!

03-11-2002, 04:25 PM	#3
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Whine, whine whine Did you add the 'friction modifier' lube or use a rear gear oil that contained it? That could be a factor but if it isn't, then just give them time to wear in.

03-11-2002, 05:56 PM	#4
theforce Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Deer Park (Houston), Texas Posts: 39	Gears If it persists take it back to the installer and have him recheck the back lash. __________________ 86 Capri "Don't Laugh It's Turbocharged!!!"

03-11-2002, 10:15 PM	#6
stock89 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mannheim, Germany Posts: 124	Whining like a beaten red headed stepchild on payday?? Yeah, I added the appropriate Friction Modifier. The whining seems to have slightly gone away since I've put about 15 miles on it, but it still resonates when you are coasting down a hill with the beast in gear. Other than that it doesn't whine. Scary, some people say it's messed up. Others say it's normal. AGH! That's it, I'm pulling out the wuigui board.... LOL

03-11-2002, 07:17 PM	#5
exgmguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Utica, Michigan Posts: 2,631	If gears in an 8.8 are installed properly they should not whine. If they are not set up perfectly they will whine a little, but most likely will be nothing to worry about. I have never seen gears quiet down though.

03-11-2002, 10:17 PM	#7
andy669 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Moline Il Posts: 901	Rob, were the gears new or used? Are they FMS, or some other brand? Do you remember setting proper pinion depth, or did you just reuse the original pinion shim? I agree with EXGMGUY, I have never seen gears get quieter either. andy __________________ 88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120

03-11-2002, 11:37 PM	#8
blk88lx Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Fort Leonard Wood, MO Posts: 179	All, I'm the other guy that had the 3.55's installed. We set the backlash to 12000's of an inch. Gears are loud. no sound to about 40 mph then the whine. also whine when I use the engine to slow the car down. The gears were new from summit, we reused our bearings. All bearings looked real good. This is scaring the heck out of me. Have only gone about 5 miles w/the car. Dont know what I should do. And I wasn't the knowlegeable mechanic - he says we should wait and they'll calm down after 100 or so miles. Another local guy told me that we could wreck the gears if we keep driving the cars. Jayson

03-12-2002, 12:35 AM	#9
crazy5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Mission Viejo,Ca Posts: 37	I had a similiar problem and when I had the gears finally checked out for whinning it was to late. The gears were wornout and had to be raplaced. __________________ 89gt,3.27's,Auburn,tremec 3550,Steeda tri-ax,aluminum driveshaft,Asp underdrives,Flowmast er 3 chamber,March ram air,130 amp alternator,Koni yellow struts,Kyb shocks,Pirelli p-6000's,MM's lower control arms and full length subs

03-12-2002, 09:01 AM	#10
blk88lx Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Fort Leonard Wood, MO Posts: 179	So can anyone tell me what the fix is? Jayson

03-12-2002, 12:55 PM	#11
gsxkilla Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 48	that kinda makes me worry b/c i would like to put 3.55 gears in my car but i dont want them to mess up like that is this normal?? ryan __________________ Cracked Heads Engine Valves Rattle Oil Leaks Every Time: "Chevrolet"

03-12-2002, 10:41 PM	#12
Coolbreeze Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: ~Columbus~GA~31909~ Posts: 156	Was the proper preload set on the pinion bearings?? If it is set to tight that might be the whines when up to speed... Sorta like a wheel bearing when it is set to tight. __________________ Mike Blown~AOD'ed~331~ T-top~ 86GT Check out car on my page here ------ > ~~My 86GT T-top ~~

03-12-2002, 11:02 PM	#13
stock89 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mannheim, Germany Posts: 124	My gears seem to be getting quieter, they only whine when in gear and coasting down a hill. I only drive about 1 mile at a time since work is close by, so the gears haven't had adequate time to heat and cool, wearing into each other. As Jayson said, we used the bearings that were in there. We used the original pinion shim, and set the new crush collar in and set to 2/1000th on the pinion depth. The gears are/were new from Summit, their tech line guys say we're screwed. The guy who assisted us said it's fine. I appreciate your comments- I'll post to let you all know how it turns out, regardless.

03-13-2002, 03:48 PM	#14
scurr3165 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: MA Posts: 10	I started hearing a whining noise in the rear end of my car also, so I took it to a rear-end specialist. He took it for a drive and told me my bearings were shot and my clutches might be gone. I dropped it off at the shop today to get a bearing change and take my 2.73 out and put 3.73. I pick it up Friday and I'll let you know how it goes. This guy has been doing rear-ends for 36 yrs. and that's all he does. I've been told by several people he's the best...............

03-14-2002, 05:42 PM	#15
93 Cobra needs input Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Madelia,MN USA Posts: 58	I replace the gears in my 93 Cobra to 3.73 and had a similar problem. Bought new FMS gears from summit myself and a good mechanic installed them by the book drove it and had a small whine. Drove it for a 100 miles or so still had it. Ended up taking the rear apart and reshimming the pinion 5 or 6 thousands more and the noise went away completely. Good luck with your gears I have heared that the higher the gears (4.30) the more noise you get along with them. __________________ 331 stroker, JE 8.5:1 pistons, H-beam rods, steel crank, main cap, msd with 3step, BBK ceramic long tubes,TKO, 4.30's, motorsport Z303, Victor Jr aluminum heads, crane gold 1.6, southside lift bars, 90/10 front, 50/50 rear, centerforce dual friction clutch, Vortech S-trim soon.

03-14-2002, 10:38 PM	#16
stock89 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mannheim, Germany Posts: 124	I'm still whining blk88LX is going to get his looked at by a "rear end specialist" snicker to see what the whining problem is. I'm going to hold off to see what his prognosis is. I have a feeling I'll end up re-shimming next weekend. I've drove about 100 miles and have had a decent amount of quieting, but it's not all gone yet. I did hear from one gear guy that most installers run the rar w/o the speedo gear in at the shop (wear gears in, so car owner never hears the whining, yet doesn't rack miles on the car). Not sure if that's standard practice or not, but...

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