I guess I need a little help diagnosing the noise.

I do hear a hum from what sounds like the rear that quickens with speed. Wung wung wung wung. .. Like a hum.

When I drove the truck home it didn't have it. Replaced broken axle now it has it. Which makes me think it's in the differential.

It has a Detroit locker in it currently. 24 spline. Rear was done about a year ago buy a Tech at Land Rover of las vegas. They used good Timken bearings. When I replaced the axle shaft I cleaned out everything meticulously. There were only a few large pieces from the break. Fluid still looked good. Zero teeth marred or scratched on the crown ring. No dents on the casting or the locker itself. No end play in the pinion bearing that I felt.

Also the noise doesn't go away when you let go of the gas. It does get a little louder on acceleration but not by that much. Happens when coasting in neutral or in gear. Hi and low speeds.

Thoughts?
Neither rear wheel have play in them. Is it possible a wheel bearing is bad but not loose? Is it worth pulling the axles again and cleaning up the bearings?

 

It had the Detroit in it when the axle shaft broke?

 

Yes sir

 

I've never had one, but I think I remember people saying that if you break an axle with some of the smaller Detroits it can damage the locker.

 

Tires maybe?? Rotate them and see what happens.

 

Yea I'll move the tires around and pull the bearings. If the Detroit was damaged by the break it seems like it would make the noise before I replaced the axles.

I'm nervous about doing the differential itself. Hope it doesn't come to that.

 

that detroit is more than likely on it's way to the grave. they do not like having shafts broken in them. i'd pull it apart and check the side gears.

 

Almost sounds like could possibly be a rear wheel bearing.

The center carrier is easy to work on. You can pull it out again and check everything on a bench. On youtube there are lots of videos that show how to check preload and also how to dye the teeth and check the pattern for the correct set-up. DId you see any teeth or spider gear teeth that got debris in them?

 

I agree w that possibility but from how I see a locker works, I don't see how the side gears would cause this type of noise. The locker seems a lot tougher then the axle shaft. Everything had a nice smooth movement when I had the diff out. No binding or grinding.

No teeth damage at all. I was looking very close. I even put light down in the locker to see if it had any damage. All the splines and surfaces looked great.

I'm wondering if the wobbling broken shaft took out the outer wheel bearing. I don't know how long it was like that. It was broken by previous owner. That would explain why the noise suddenly appeared when the new shaft was installed. I could hear the old shaft tap tap tap when I test drove it. Knowing it had a locker I knew a broken shaft was a probably making the noise.

 

That could be a very real possibility. When you hear the sound and tap the brake, does the pitch change or sound minimize momentarily or go away?

Also if you sway from side to side and put more weight on the broken axle side, does that change the sound at all? If it does, I'd replace the bearing.