Whine after regear to 5.13's
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Morrison, CO
Whine after regear to 5.13's
Recently had my 2016 JK regeared with 5.13's. Jeep is running 37's. Within the first 24 hours started hearing a whine when accelerating from about 65mph and up. The sound comes on after driving the jeep 5-10 minutes after the gear oil presumably warms up. Noise isn't terribly loud but enough to be annoying as hell. The shop that did the regear is very reputable. I took it back and the owner said he couldn't hear the noise or that it was maybe the tires. I don't think the tires would change pitch when changing from accel to decel. I also wonder if they test drove it when the rear end was cold because the sound is harder to hear until warmed up. They're going to pull the covers at the 500 mark to change the oil and check the lash.
My questions are:
Here's the video. It's not terribly loud but enough for my crappy iphone mic to pick it up from the front seat:
Thanks for any input.
My questions are:
- 1 - Will checking the patterns on the gears identify any potential issue?
- 2 - Am I being too picky and this is "normal" for 5.13's?
Here's the video. It's not terribly loud but enough for my crappy iphone mic to pick it up from the front seat:
Thanks for any input.
JK Jedi
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 486
From: Knoxville
That's a bum experience to have with getting gears done. If he insists it's tires then I'd get some stock rollers and take it back. I didn't go 5.13 but my 4.56's have been the same level of noise (none) as factory gears. If they whine, my reading mentioned that they may be too tight. Maybe they went overboard on the crush sleeve?? I hear it's easy to miss that torque range but I managed to find it and I'm no reputable shop.
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,362
Likes: 2,089
From: Willow Park, TX
It's really hard to tell on the video. Often a whine points to the pinion bearings though. 5.13s aren't going to whine any more or less than any other gearset. These things also don't tend to get better with time. I'd just make sure that when you take it back for the 500 mile check up take it in after a good bit of driving and have them do a test drive along with you so you can point it out. No, the pitch of tire hum sure didn't change.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Randys R&P has a big faq's area which includes some common noises and possible causes. This list is under the heading:
GEARS | SPIDER GEARS - What is this whirring noise?
Whirring noise only while decelerating at any or all speeds is most likely caused by bad pinion bearings or loose pinion bearing preload, and almost never by bad ring and pinion gears.
A howl or whine during acceleration over a small or large speed range is usually caused by worn ring and pinion gears or improper gear set up.
Rumbling or whirring at speeds over about 20 mph can be caused by worn carrier bearings. The noise may change while turning.
Regular clunking every few feet may indicate broken ring or pinion gears.
Banging or clunking only on corners can be caused by broken spider gears, lack of sufficient positraction lubrication, or worn positraction clutches.
Rumble while turning may indicate bad wheel bearings.
A steady vibration that increases with the vehicle’s speed can be caused by worn u-joints or an out of balance driveshaft.
Clunking only when starting to move or getting on and off the gas might be loose yokes, bad u-joints or worn transfer case or transmission parts.
A clunking sound that only occurs while turning is a result of broken or damaged spider gears. Spider gears do not move at all while traveling in a straight line so they’ll only squeal when turning. If this is the case then the spider gears will need to be replaced and possibly the carrier as well. Be sure to inspect the ring and pinion to confirm floating debris did not damage it as well.
A howl or whine during acceleration over a small or large speed range is usually caused by worn ring and pinion gears or improper gear set up.
Rumbling or whirring at speeds over about 20 mph can be caused by worn carrier bearings. The noise may change while turning.
Regular clunking every few feet may indicate broken ring or pinion gears.
Banging or clunking only on corners can be caused by broken spider gears, lack of sufficient positraction lubrication, or worn positraction clutches.
Rumble while turning may indicate bad wheel bearings.
A steady vibration that increases with the vehicle’s speed can be caused by worn u-joints or an out of balance driveshaft.
Clunking only when starting to move or getting on and off the gas might be loose yokes, bad u-joints or worn transfer case or transmission parts.
A clunking sound that only occurs while turning is a result of broken or damaged spider gears. Spider gears do not move at all while traveling in a straight line so they’ll only squeal when turning. If this is the case then the spider gears will need to be replaced and possibly the carrier as well. Be sure to inspect the ring and pinion to confirm floating debris did not damage it as well.
JK Jedi
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 486
From: Knoxville
If it's indeed pinion bearings then they'll need to run paint on the gears again. That'll show front to back where they are on the pinion hitting the ring. The backlash is what you're looking for to determine if you need to move it side to side (carrier bearings/ adjustments to those shims).'
The other thing to check now would be that you've got adequate fluid and that the pinion seals aren't leaking. You can lose some serious fluid there and that would manifest as noisy pinion bearings too.
The other thing to check now would be that you've got adequate fluid and that the pinion seals aren't leaking. You can lose some serious fluid there and that would manifest as noisy pinion bearings too.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 10
From: Milford pa
Just my opinion but I re geared a tacoma (yup not a jeep..but #2 toy...gears are gears) to 4;56 and no change in noise(as in none) with KM3's...Im not sure I would go back given the first response from the installer......seems he is not willing to stand behind his work. Dont think I would wait for 500 miles thou...... Wish you good luck....
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JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,362
Likes: 2,089
From: Willow Park, TX
Odds of you having a go-pro are slim, but if you have an old cell phone, or just something to record the sound on, I'd mount it right back there by the diff so you have a clear noise that you can prove pinpoints to the diff and not the hum of tires. I'd make them test drive it to hear the whirling and not rely on hopes it will show during an inspection. For a lot of shops, the 500 mile inspection is literally draining the oil and making sure there's not much metal in there. We'd like to think that shops are removing the cover and REALLY inspecting the gears, but that is often not the case.