Noise from right wheel/axle?
 

Hey all, another newbie question, hope I don't get annoying as I attempt to learn stuff with this new hobby!

While driving I hear a metal rub sort of sound from the passenger rear wheel. It's a rub pause rub pause, very rhythmatic, almost sounds like there is vibration involved. It's def not the tire by the way. Someone mentioned an axle bearing? I searched quite a bit hoping to find info on that, found a lot on wheel bearings, and some about a pinion bearing. I am not sure if the pinion is the axle bearing he mentioned? Any education on that would be appreciated.

From what I understand pulling the axle should be a breeze? Put it up on a jack, wheel and drum off, 4 more bolts, pull it out? Anything else I should know? Do those bolts need to be torqued back on or anything?

I was told it was a sure-grip, don't know much else about the rear end, suppose I can find some identifying markings on it? How about figuring out the gearing?

I suppose I should check and make sure it's greased well, since it does appear to have a lot of leakage from some time in the past. There is very little play in the driveshaft (with the car in neutral).

Thanks for any tips, links, etc!

i think i know the type of sound you are talking about..? i have had it happend to me one time the drum was warped and rubbed on the back plate....another time i had a out of round drum and the brakes would rub on the drum.. so maybe those could be it...but yes pulling an axle is as easy as you asked. gear ratio their could be a tag on one of the bolts that would tell you the ratio...if not then you have to jack up the rear end with the trans in neutral and count the revolutions of the wheel to revolutions of drive shaft.

You would still have to disconnect the brake lines, e-brake cables, shocks and driveshaft before pulling the axle out. There is no real reason to do that either.

Start at the brakes and see if there is any part of them rubbing, jack up the back end and have a jack stand under each end of the rear axle, start the car up and with the tires/wheels off and the lugnuts hold the drum on, put the car into drive and listen for the sound. Have someone in the car while you do this. Slowly increase the speed as you listen for it if you do not hear it.

Hmm, conflicting replies, not sure if I'd need to drop the whole rear end/driveshaft/shocks just to pull the axle out, yes/no?

I will definitely check the drums as suggested before going beyond, thanks for the advice!

You have to at least disconnect all those things (driveshaft, shocks, e-brake cables, brake line(s), sway bar/link (if equiped), u-bolts) if you want to pull the axle out of the car.

if it does have a sure grip the easiest way to tell is to look under the car. on a 7 1/4 rearend it has a unitised casing and a detachable rear cover plate on a 8 3/4 sure grip it has a detachable differential carrier assembly in simple terms if it has no detachable cover you can see from the back of the car it has a sure grip:D

another possibility, is that your drum could be out of round
not warped, just worn out

another way to find out gear ratio is count the teeth on the two gears and divide them that should give you your ratio if you are gonna take the cover or differential assembly off which ever you have:D

I figured it wasn't going to be as easy as I had been lead to believe... I'll keep hoping it doesn't come to that.

May be the rear end making a hollowing type noise. Check fluid level.

Also, could be a bad wheel bearing.



Also, to pull an axle out you dont need to disconnect all that stuff Tim. Not on an old charger anyways

If it has drum brakes:

Pull the wheel off, pull the drum off. Take the 5 axle nuts off, put the drum on back wards and thread on 2 lug nuts. Then pull the drum and it'll pull the axle out.


Pulling the rear end housing itself out is a different story.

You're the third person to say that, I guess if it comes to that I'll try it and see.

I'm going to mess with it next weekend, wish I could this weekend but I hear I have to go attend a graduation gathering and then do something for mothers day...,,,,,

Thanks again for all the feedback

I was the third person to say what?

About the rear end noise, wheel bearing, or how to pull the axle out?

lol, third to say that the axle is that easy to pull

Ah.

I didn't see anyone mention that on here, so i thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

Literally, it should take about 2 minutes to get the axles out.


-nick

nah I had heard it elsewhere, and then read it above, appreciate the confirmation

If it has a sure grip, when you spin one wheel, the other should spin in the same direction.

What dodge nut was saying is how to tell if you have an 8 3/4 or a different rear end.

If its an 8 3/4, you should see a "round" back center, if its an 8 1/4 or 7 1/4, you'll see bolts holding the back cover on.

8 3/4's did come with non sure grips



Oh, i also re-read your starting post. The axle nuts you just need to get them snug. I believe they are a 7/16th, 1/4 inch drive with a long extension

I just replaced the 8 3/4 differential in my GTX clone with a 3:55 suregrip and while it was on the rack, I turned the wheel, they both turned the same way. I think with the non suregrip (open) diff, they turn opposite. That is how I remember it anyway.

I hear/read someone say axle and I think the whole axle, housing and all, not the axle shaft. :rolleyes:

thanks blue 68 gts for correcting me i dont want to give out bad info but 67 gtxclone is correct the wheels spin in the same direction on a sure grip rear end

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You guys are great, thanks for all the info.

no big deal blue 68 gts we are all to help each other when we can

I'm just getting started back into this stuff, reviving some very dormant brain cells. And one thing is very much standing out for me so far.

Try the least expensive and easiest fix first,then move on to the more difficult expensive idea's as you go.

Surely someone has not stepped down on the emergency break? No one would do that would they :) A lot of times on these older cars the emergency break cable will not fully disengage (if at at all) and you will get some rub from the rear breaks.