weird nose in the rear....
 

Help...I have a 1989 mustang GT 302 5-speed.. its sounds like a helicopter comming from the drivers side rear. soft but i can hear it.... Dont know what it is.... Thanks, steve

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

Would that be an apache or black hawk helicopter sound...LOL...just kidding man!
Could you be a little more specific?

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

check fluid level first, then pull cover inspect fluid for obvious metal flakes glaze or debris and look for any obvious things. original rear i assume, problably haven't changed the fluid lately, maybe the bearings are going? inspect axles for wear, good time to replace seals at each end while your at it. If the rear is f%cked, year one makes a remanufactured complete year with gear ratios of your choice for under 800$, that beats cost of getting a rear rebuilt by most places, (at least by me in NY) a shop wanted 1,000$ to put in 3.73 gears and a new trac loc in my rear, and not replace anything else, the rear is so easy to do yourself, why pay anyone, I did it with a few jack stands all by myself in a slanted driveway, so anyone can do it!
If you can't afford the complete rear or a rebuild job, rears are cheap and plentiful by me in junkyards, dozens for under 300$ some out of wrecks with aftermarket gears, the guys usually pull them and save them on the side and try to get more money for them, obviously. use the tape trick to determine the ratio, easiest way in a junkyard without pulling covers and counting teeth, and if you don't have a code list on hand, there is a site that has the axle code list, I think it's slowgt.com, not sure.

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

I doubt it's a problem with the rearend. I've never heard of an 8.8 having problems under normal use.

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

First thing i would do is make sure the lug nuts are tight. :D Then i would make sure the 4 bolts (12mm) that hold the drive shaft to the rear end are tight.

If thats not it pull it apart and inspect it for damage.

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

Excellent point! Now that I think about it, those would make the "helicopter" noise you referred to.
I've had both of those happen to me and it DOES sound like a helicopter sound. Very good point Dark_5.0
:cool:

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

more description on the sound is needed. first thing of thought of was the loud hummmmm of the ford fuel pump.

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

I remember the "helicopter" sound. I'm willing to bet it's his U-joint. Happened to me the first week I owned my '79 Capri. :)

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

Jack the car up. Put in neutral and make sure the car won't roll. With engine off, take off the wheels and spin each side by hand. This will reassure that the sound isn't coming from out of round drums or out of adjustment brakes. Feel for resistance. Right now, my car has resistance on the driver side wheel and makes a wah wah wah sound that increases with vehicle speed, eventually turning into what feels like out of balance tires at high speed. I think its a bad axle bearing.

Re: weird nose in the rear....
 

Like posted before. The only things you're looking at here are U-joint, diff, or bearing. "Helicopter" noise on one side of the car leads me to belive it's an axle bearing. I'd put money on it. But like the guys already said, there's no reason an 8.8 "goes bad" under normal use. Fluid level has to be low, so we need to find out WHY. Fix the bearing, then fix the "WHY", and you're good to go.

And I'll bet you a donut that the Helicopter is a "COBRA"! hehehehehhe

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/systems/dvic289.jpg