backporch
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2017
- Messages
- 172
- Reaction score
- 9
- Points
- 18
- Location
- NJ
- Vehicle Year
- 1999
- Make / Model
- Ranger Off Road
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Tire Size
- 245 75R16
I have a 99 4.0 4wd with the 8.8 open rear axle. I have only been driving the truck for a few hundred miles since an engine swap. Don't have any knowledge of what it was like before that and I haven't driven too many trucks. I think the rear end makes noise... not sure if its normal. The rest of the truck is surprisingly quiet.
Given its high mileage (220K miles) I would like to use it every now and then until it dies of rust in a few years. I really don't want to crack open the axle and rebuild or even look to replace unless I have to. I don't like noises, but I can ignore it.
The symptom now is a noise that is loudest when under load and it sounds to me like a low pitched grumble like a mechanical noise of a bus slowing down. it goes away on coasting or in neutral. With the back window open there is noise when slowing down in gear, but not nearly as loud. The noise under load may be reverberating in the cab a little too...
It would like to understand what the typical failure for this part is. If things are getting a little loose or out of spec and I still have a few thousand miles left in the rear end, I should be good. If it may lock up the rear wheels at any time, then I need to address it.
I did just replace the rear axle lube with 80W90 gear oil. The oil in the case didn't look out of the ordinary. The fill plug looked magnetic and there was the typical buildup of fine metallic paste. The gasket on the old cover was black RTV, not sure if recently/ever serviced.
I really haven't done any more diagnostics or had the rear end up on jackstands.
I think this truck was more of a passenger vehicle for at least the later majority of its life and does not have a tow hitch or ball, so may not have been used to haul much.
Given its high mileage (220K miles) I would like to use it every now and then until it dies of rust in a few years. I really don't want to crack open the axle and rebuild or even look to replace unless I have to. I don't like noises, but I can ignore it.
The symptom now is a noise that is loudest when under load and it sounds to me like a low pitched grumble like a mechanical noise of a bus slowing down. it goes away on coasting or in neutral. With the back window open there is noise when slowing down in gear, but not nearly as loud. The noise under load may be reverberating in the cab a little too...
It would like to understand what the typical failure for this part is. If things are getting a little loose or out of spec and I still have a few thousand miles left in the rear end, I should be good. If it may lock up the rear wheels at any time, then I need to address it.
I did just replace the rear axle lube with 80W90 gear oil. The oil in the case didn't look out of the ordinary. The fill plug looked magnetic and there was the typical buildup of fine metallic paste. The gasket on the old cover was black RTV, not sure if recently/ever serviced.
I really haven't done any more diagnostics or had the rear end up on jackstands.
I think this truck was more of a passenger vehicle for at least the later majority of its life and does not have a tow hitch or ball, so may not have been used to haul much.