Rear knocking

[Michaelolson88]

Well I’m getting close to buying a new car. Just replaced my rear axle seals and bearings. Everything went relatively smooth and got put back together what I thought was correctly. However. I am now getting a clicking/knocking noise from the rear wheels that sounds at the same rate as the wheel spinning. I have no clue what I did wrong. Could it be that the axle shafts themselves are toast. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jazzer]

Thoughts;

Did each bearing seat completely?

Were the bearings put in dry or lubed?

Is the differential fluid topped off?

Were all differential parts replaced correctly?

Were all brake parts in correct order?

I’m hoping something will jog your memory.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Clicking at wheel speed sounds like a brake component came loose to me...

 

[Michaelolson88]

Well I’m getting mixed results from what I’ve been reading online. One thing I’m not sure about is the seal itself. The original seal had the flange on it that created a positive stop. The new ones don’t and some online have said that make sure to keep the seal flush with the outside and other say to seat it completely in so that it is not flush with the outside. Perhaps that’s the problem?

 

[Jazzer]

As long as the seal is flush, and tight around the axle, you’re fine with that part of it. The seal won’t make noise like that.

 

[Michaelolson88]

hmmmmmm..... yeah everything went back in well. I hammered the bearings in until they bottomed out, then put the seals in flush with the outside, next I slide the axle shaft back in and put the c clips back on and then the large pin back in and bolted that in. cleaned up the brakes completely. put the pumpkin cap back on with liquid gasket filled it all back up with 75-140 and some limited slip additive. makes me wonder if perhaps the seals and bearings werent the problem even though it was leaking like a mother through the seals into the drums. Debating just buying a whole new rear end and plopping that in.

 

[Jazzer]

Can you (safely) raise the axle onto jackstands, idle it to spin the rear wheels, and hunt down the noise?

 

[Michaelolson88]

I only have two jack stands but maybe I need to go buy two more and do that. I’m assuming it would be safe enough on four jack stands to do that.

 

[2011Supercab]

Are you sure the lug nuts are tight?

 

[Michaelolson88]

Yes indeed. That was actually the first thing I checked haha

 

[Uncle Gump]

Rock/nail in the tread?

Have you taken the drum back off to inspect or just resort straight to asking the forum about the noise.

 

[Michaelolson88]

No nails or anything. I did a quick visual inspection and didn’t see anything odd.

 

[Michaelolson88]

It honestly sounds like the axle but I can’t for the life of me understand why that would be.

 

[sgtsandman]

I only have two jack stands but maybe I need to go buy two more and do that. I’m assuming it would be safe enough on four jack stands to do that.

All you need is two jack stand since you would only be turning the rear axle. You can chock the front tires as a safety precaution, but that is more to just make sure the truck doesn't roll due to working on a not level surface.

 

[Michaelolson88]

Gotcha. I wasn’t sure if yall would roast me for being unsafe or something by only using two hahah