Last week I was driving down the highway and I hear a winding noise that seems to be coming from the rear end. It started really low but now is pretty loud when it gets 45mph and up. What do you think it could be?

Its a 85 GSL-SE, I've already checked the fuild level in the rearend and even changed it out. One of my friends says that it could be the rear axle bearings are worn out and need to be replaced. What would you all suggest? I have to get this car up and running. I've already missed to autocrosses, because I don't want to drive it and cause more damage.

 

Quick way to check is to derive the vehicle until it starts making the noise, Safely jerk the
steering wheel to the left or right , if the noise goes away for a moment , it is an axle bearing, if it does not, probably diff noise. rx7doctor

 

Diff noise the car had when I got it. Small but noticable... This noise is different. Loud. I'll try what you said and tell you what happened.

 

tried it, didn't seem to make a difference. What do you think? maybe diff bearing? is there even a diff bearing?

 

There are pinion bearings and carrier bearings along with the outer axle bearings. I would still check your U-joints first though...

 

I'm going to check the u-joints first thing in the morning. I haven't had time to even look at them because I've been buying a new house and I now have a garage to work in. If I drove it over to your house, do you think that you could listen and tell me what you think.

 

U-joints usually will make a clunk sound, the whinning you are hearing is most likely rear axle bearing failing.
Doesn't really matter which one, since the other is probably the same age, so change them both.

Don't bother with aftermarket bearings, at least for racing, the never held up. So bust out the wallet for the factory bearing kit with a new rear axle seal.

Good time to check your limited slip diff. cause your could probably use a shim or a soda can to tighten it up. Both axles shafts have to come out to get the pumpkin out.

BTW did you use the correct rear diff oil, for LSD?

John

 

how about a scrape ,scrape sound and is not brakes?????

 

so how hard is it to change these bearings you speak of???

 

you might try the e-brake cable because I had the same prob....making the same noise too....i took it to mazda and they told me it was a bearing.......so I decided to pull the back wheels off and there it was...the cable for the e-brake was rubbing the rim....so i tied it to the frame and that was it...it tightend the e-brake up some too

 

welp, I dont touch rear ends. I just say tear it down, drain the fluid. and take the axels out. and get it rebuilt.

Neon seas lock-up in your future

 

I had the same problem and it was the axle bearings and I have a GSLSE