I have a 2006 LR3 SE and I noticed a loud whine coming from the front. I immediately thought it was the transmission, but am now wondering if it is the front diff. The transmission shifts perfectly with no hesitation or slippage and I assume if there were an issue it would not work so well.

Will the diff whine if it is going out? I have read several posts on finding new/rebuilt ones on this forum. If it is the diff, how much am I looking at for rebuilt and can the current one be rebuilt?

 

Get it on a lift and listen to it while running, could be something as simple as a wheel bearing.

 

95% chance the whine is coming from the wheel bearings. My LR3 has 142k miles ('07 SE V8) and makes the same noise. Changed FR/RR diff and T-Case fluids. Used Castrol Syntax 75w90 for diffs and Royal Purple Synchromax for T-Case. Fluids were black as shoe polish. Whine continued. So now my next step is to replaced all four wheel bearings/hub assemblies with SKF or Timken units. I am also going to replace the driver's CV axle as the thread for the axle nut were badly damaged when I replaced the control arms. And while I have the truck in the air, I am planning on replacing the sway bar links and the sway bar bushings.

 

Wheel bearings are an often overlooked problem, or misdiagnosed for a diff. Also turn off your AC if it does it when it's not rolling.

 

I may be asking without doing enough research, but are the wheel bearings replaceable without replacing the entire hub? when I search for D2 wheel bearings I get a bunch of hits for full hub assemblies.

 

On the front its bearing and hub integrated, which is way better, believe me.

 

For everyone but your wallet >_<

 

For example, the rear wheel bearings need to be pressed in.

the bearings are around $80 a piece. The entire knuckle needs to be removed, hub pressed out, bearing pressed put, bearing pressed in, hub pressed in, knuckle replaced and an alignment done.

unless you have a shop press and don't value your time, it's better for your wallet.