9 Bolt problems...

[BigAls87Z28]

Ok, recently I swapped in a 9 bolt. Got in the car to test everything out, and there is this very noticeable wooshing/humming noise. Now I never had this before, so I assume its coming from the rear end. Now just going off experience, it sounds very close to a hub bearing noise, its the closest noise I could assosiciate with what Im hearing, so I jumped to that.
Anyone know any tricks as to find out what it could be? Im going to turn in a circle, left and right, to see if the noise goes away or gets louder.
The only thing else I could think of was possibly a brake problem, as I did have a little problem with one of the calipers.
Im worried on trying to figure out if its the axle tube bearings, or the carrier bearings. Anyway to figure out which one is the problem?

[WildBillyT]

Explain the caliper issue. Could it be a caliper not releasing?

[Ian]

***ASSUMING IT IS A REAR NOISE***

drive at whatever speed it is that the noise happens at and swerve left and right. if it gets louder when you swerve left, its coming from the right (right side would be receiving most of the weight transfer). if it gets louder when you swerve right, its coming from the left (left side receiving most of the weight transfer).

if the noise stays the same when swerving left and right, you'll have to check the pinion and carrier bearings. jack up the rear and put some jackstands under there to support the car. get a friend to "drive" the car while the rear is up in the air. once you hear the noise, listen with a screwdriver to the front of the center section near the pinion yolk. then listen to either side of the center section just before the axle tubes using the same screwdriver method. if you still can't determine where the noise is coming from, you'll have to open it up and take a look or take it to a shop and have them look into it.

[BigAls87Z28]

Well, I did notice that turning to the right, the noise seemed to go away. I took a big sweeping turn onto the parkway last night, and I didnt hear it.
Im hoping if its anything, its an axle bearing...

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Explain the caliper issue. Could it be a caliper not releasing?

As for the caliper issue...Its possible, but I had the problem on the passanger side. It has a cyclical noise. It actually sounds like a heliocopter, like a Huey. It has that whoosh whoosh whoosh noise...its not constant, its cyclicial.
Thats what made me move away from the caliper.

[sweetbmxrider]

the tires and wheels are straight and balanced? no shifted belt or uneven pressure? need a wheel weight on the caliper kidding

[BigAls87Z28]

You know, thats another thing I thought of. The 10 bolt I had did have a bent right axle. Its possible that the tire developed an odd wear pattern
good thing I lost the wheel lock so I can swap front to rear. That might be something I want to take care of before I start playing with bearings...

[sweetbmxrider]

yeah i would definitely swap tires around before i started fugging with the rear. its much easier

[BigAls87Z28]

I still dont think that will fix the problem, but again, it couldnt hurt.

[sweetbmxrider]

agreed. maybe tuesday i can give it a listen or something

[PolarBear]

You could do a little burnout to try to even out the tread a little, or try the wheels from the 2nd gen so you have the same left and right

[sweetbmxrider]

i think al has like 3 sets of 3rd gen wheels IIRC

[BigAls87Z28]

Ahaha...two sets, plus the 14's from the 72.

Well, did the decreasing circle thing, both left and right and the result is that the noise stops completely when I go left or right....
I went right, tighter and tighter...no noise
Went left thinking "this has got to be the one" and just like the right, no noise. As soon as I straighted out, the noise came right back.
Now that Im a little dizzy, Im back at square 1...wtf is it.

[Ian]

maybe the diff itself? when turning, the diff "slips" so you're not dragging the outside tire. I've never heard anything like that, so I'm really just guessing. can't really think of too much else that usually makes noise like that.

[BigAls87Z28]

Also, I now hear a bit of gear whine...I thought I added enough fluid.

[LTb1ow]

10 bolt swap?

[BigAls87Z28]

4th gen swap. Then no worry about spacers!!

[GP99GT]

shouldve just went with a 9 inch

[BigAls87Z28]

Ok, drove it a bit more, took it down a few roads, and I notice that the noise does seem to go away when I take right turns, like in a tight twisty road on my way to work. I need someone else in the car with me cause the twists are tight, and I concentrate more on the road then the noise.

[sweetbmxrider]

will it be around tomorrow?

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, Ill have it at the house. Caprice is out of commission for a while.