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REAREND NOISE

T

texan

Full Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2003
Messages
84
I have an 03 Z71 with almost 11,000 miles. It has the standard limited slip rear axel. A few days ago I was stopped in a parking lot with the right rear on clear ice that I did not see. When I started up the right rear slipped on the ice. Up about a 100 Ft. I had to make a hard right turn at slow speed. It sounded like one of the rear wheels was locked and being pulled around the turn. I drove forward another 100 Ft. and stopped. Then put the truck in reverse and after a few seconds a very loud banging noise from what appears to be from rear diferential. All was fine when I drove off. I went back to the ice and did the same start again with same results. When I tried to make a hard right turn it again sounded like a rear wheel was locked. I drove off and after about 200 feet the loud bang was again in the rear end.

I have contacted the dealer on will go in on 12/29/03 but he said that sounds normal but will check it out. I have been driving for over 45 years and this is the first "normal" noise I have every had like this. Does anyone know what is going on back there?

I have and 03-Z71 to which I have added the Kenwood 2100 Nav. system. Unit works fine but software sucks.

TEXAN
 
If you have the LOCKER rear end, and I think you do, that is what you heard. If one wheel slips, it will lock up the rear end and there will be some noise. Probley will be louder if you are on the gas hard. Is it OK with no noise while normal driving?

Butch
 
THANKS. AFTER IT LOCKS BACK IN PLACE IT HAS NO NOISE. IS THIS NORMAL OR IS IT SOMETHING TO BE REPLACED. NEVER HAD THIS BEFORE AND HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CHEV. TRUCKS WITH LIMITED SLIP.
 
Limited slip and alocker are two differant things. This discription is taken from another website:

Lockers
This term can refer to two types of differentials. The simplest is a regular differential that has had the spider gears welded to the side gears, resulting in a completely "locked" assembly that has no differential action. The circle-track people often use a specially built unit that has no spider or side gears at all, just a carrier for the ring gear that has splines for the axle shafts. This unit is also referred to as a "spool."
A second type of locker is the "Detroit Locker" which is the brand name for a ratchet-type unit. When no power is being applied, there is full differential action. As soon as power is applied, the ratchet mechanism effectively locks the axles together. It is an all-or-nothing deal.

Limited-slip
The feature which distinguishes a limited-slip from a locker is its progressive action. It provides some degree of differential action even as power is applied until at some point it may lock up completely, depending on how it is set up. I have heard the terms "limited-slip" and "positraction" used interchangeably and I have heard other people claim there is a difference.

Butch
 
the Z71 has the rear locker
 
The rear end whine is really a problem. GM told me that all the rear ends with the 3.73 rear end has the whine. The installed the Tunded Torsion Damper and as one of the other respondents said. It only moved it from the 50-60 range to the 40-50 range. It now has progressed to the 40-55 range.

Because mine is so bad, I have decided to go the Lemon Law Way. and ask for my money back. This problem is widespread with the Avalanche, and if you hae a 3.73 rear end, they say you will or do have this problem. Seems like they could find a way to fix it.

Such a pitty, I really like my Avalanche, and I want to keep it. Chevy says they cannot fix it, that it is a characteristic of the vehicle.

Afraid not. Any gears that are not manufactured to fit together correctly will whine.

 
I have the 3.73 and do not have any whine from the rear end?
 
I don't have any RE noise either! If GM said that, maybe I should have mine fixed!
I can hear myself now "Sir, my rear-end is quiet and another dealer said that a noisy rear end is normal, can you fix it please?"
Maybe he'll tell me to take some Beano! ;D
 
In response to those who indicate they do not have a whine in the Rearend/axle. Read prior information on the site. Chevy Issued a Technical Service Bulletin on this problem in early 2003. I have driven 4 different Avalanches and they all had a whine in the rear end between 40 and 60 MPH. The last paperwork. I met with a manufacturer's Rep last month after they had installed the kit to fix the problem and he said that it was a problem with all 3.73 rear ends. If you have one that does not whine, he says that it will eventually whine. The whine in my rear end is so loud that I have to turn up the radio loud to drown it out. It is also possible that you are tone deaf for the sound that the rear end emits.

Mine is so bad that Chevy is going to take back the truck under the Lemon Law.:3:
 
My wife has noticed that I have some rear-end noise on occasion. She wants to lemon-law me :p

Seriously, though, I have no noise like with with my avalanche w/3.73 either :cautious:
 
I picked up my '03 in late March; likely they applied a successful fix. I have an extended warranty so if it does show up, I'll deal with it. Right now, it ain't broke (the noise), so why "fix" it!
My hearing isn't the best anymore but that's just high freqs; well over the noise freq of a ring & pinion!
I know the noise well: learned the hard way setting up 4:56's in my :B:'70 Chevelle SS454 :B:; lots of crush sleeves, shims & gaskets. Maybe some of us ended up with a good setting??
 
MANY THANKS FOR THE INFO. IT HAS BEEN TO MANY YEARS NOT WORKING ON CARS. MY LAST CAR THAT I TORE APART WAS A 1950 STUD. THAT WAS IN 1958. THE QUESTION I STILL HAVE IS THE LOUD BANGING NOISE AND THE REAR TIRES LOCKING UP (OR APPEARING TO LOCK UP ON A HARD TURN AFTER THE TIRES SPIN) SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR IS IT JUST SOMETHING THEY WILL SAY IS NORMAL? AS OF THIS TIME I HAVE NO WHINE IN REAR.
THANKS TO ALL FOR THE INFORMATION.
TEXAN FROM CT
 
texan I wpould have them look at rear end for record keeping sake....

It sounds like locker is engaging but disenagages kinda harsh...which in long run might not be good...

HTH
 
RichUF said:
My wife has noticed that I have some rear-end noise on occasion. She wants to lemon-law me :p
Click to expand...
hehehehe mine says the same thing especially after a few bowls of chili >:D
 
Well, I got over 22000 miles on my 3.73's with little whine from the rear. Mostly highway driving across country. When I do hear some noise, it is from the tires, not the rear end. Guess I am one of the lucky ones also.
My locker doesn't bang, but haven't used it much since last year's snow. :0:
 
MANY THANKS FROM A BEAT UP OLD GUY FOR YOUR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE. MAY CHRISTMAS BE GOOD TO YOU AND YOURS. TEXAN
 
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