I have a 1997 Ford F-150 XLT, loaded, 4x4, ext.cab, short bed, 4.6L V-8, limited slip differential.

I'm starting to get some wining from my rear end. Not sure if it is the gears wearing or a bearing wearing out. The truck has been maintained perfectly, but the original guy I bought it from had a small 900 lb. pop-up truck camper on the truck for about 3 years and also towed a big boat from time to time (so I know the rear end was working to carry the load).

Any suggestions as to what it might be ? Any known problems with these rear ends ?

I am totally afraid to have a shop rebuild it - over all the years, still can't find a shop I trust - been screwed too many time with the rebuilt items.

I would rather drive it until it dies and then put a used axel in (rather than having a shop rebuild it -- or is this a bad idea ?) I'm not sure how hard it will be to find the right replacement axel.



Please e-mail me if you might or have any advice, know of someone selling a compatible used axel, or of any good places to look.



1997 Ford F-150, 4.6L, XLT, V-8, Ext.Cab, Short Bed, Limited Slip Differential.



Any comments would be greatly appreciated !

Stan The Man = stan@fourwh.com Thanks So Much !

 

How often has the rear differential lube changed? I'd start by changing the oil in the rear diff and see if the noise persists. Beyond that, I'd just run it, and see if it gets any worse. Towing shouldn't cause any problems as long as the oil is changed according to the schedule.

 

Hi Stan and welcome to the forum
If you change the oil in the diff like Crazy001 said you can check to see if there is any junk, metal shavings etc in the oil, at the same time.
Does it make noise all the time? When you get on or off the throttle is it louder?

 

Stantheman, I have the same truck except mine has the 5.4 I am the original owner. the noise started at around 45,000 miles for me. Kept putting it off and it kept getting worse. my noise would come and go, but seemed to be heat related. just recently at 71,000 miles I finally had the rear lube changed by a local mechanic. Ford said there is no friction modifier needed, just fluid, but they put it in anyway. Not sure if this is good or bad, but the shop is very reputable and they always use the friction modifier when they do a rear service. Anyway, the noise did go away, and it has been quiet for over 3,000 miles so far.
TAZ
ps, my wifes 99Acura SLX(4x4suv) started doing the same thing around 50,000miles also(just my luck). brought it to Acura and all they did was change the rear fluid. It too has quieted. neither had an abnormal amount of metal in the old fluid

 

THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE !

the noise is pretty constant - the faster I go, the louder it gets (I can hear it more when the windows are down), once I get rolling at a good speed, I can put the truck in neutral and the noise is still there (doesn't change the sound at all)

I pulled the filler plug the other day to make sure there was enough fluid, and oil came out right away so I know it is full. There was a little metal on the end of the filler plug (guessing it is magnitized), but it didn't look like a ton of shavings ?

sounds like I will start with changing the fluid in the differential and see what happens - I would be stoked if that will keep it going for a few more years

it only has about 125,000 K on it right now

thanks again

Stan The Man