Whine from rear. Rear end or driveshaft?

[Jeffrey Howell]

My 2008 GMC Yukon has a noticeable whine coming from the rear, under acceleration at highway speeds. I cant tell if it is a rear end problem or a driveshaft u-joint. Any suggestions on what to check?
Thanks!

By the way, it's not coming from my wife complaining about my driving.

 

[avalonandl]

Drive shafts dont whine.

How many miles. Likely Pinion gear or bearings.

 

[Jeffrey Howell]

Drive shafts dont whine.

How many miles. Likely Pinion gear or bearings.[/QUOTE

145,000 Sounds more like rear end than bearings

 

[Doubeleive]

generally the pinion bearing or wheel bearings will whine, the carrier in my experience will not whine but will make other heavier sounds, clunks, etc.
you might want to pull the rear wheels off and check to see if there is any axle grease coming out of the seals and look at the pinion, grab the pinion and see if it has any play in it.

 

[Fless]

My 2008 GMC Yukon has a noticeable whine coming from the rear, under acceleration at highway speeds. I cant tell if it is a rear end problem or a driveshaft u-joint. Any suggestions on what to check?

Differential fluid level, and condition if you can get some out.

 

[Jeffrey Howell]

generally the pinion bearing or wheel bearings will whine, the carrier in my experience will not whine but will make other heavier sounds, clunks, etc.
you might want to pull the rear wheels off and check to see if there is any axle grease coming out of the seals and look at the pinion, grab the pinion and see if it has any play in it.

Will do! Thank you

 

[Jeffrey Howell]

Differential fluid level, and condition if you can get some out.

I will try that this weekend. Thanks

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@Jeffrey Howell I agree with it being the rear diff. I had a Tahoe that had a whine coming from the rear that would go away when letting off the gas. I took the rear diff cover off and everything looked fine so I put it back together with some royal purple diff fluid and it kept making the sound. I just kept driving it with the whine.

 

[2591tdj]

My 2008 GMC Yukon has a noticeable whine coming from the rear, under acceleration at highway speeds. I cant tell if it is a rear end problem or a driveshaft u-joint. Any suggestions on what to check?
Thanks!

By the way, it's not coming from my wife complaining about my driving.

I have the same whine. Looking forward to what you uncover as the cause.

 

[theycallmecoyote]

Jack up the rear and check the wheels for side to side play, *should* be able to rule out wheel bearings that way.

 

[dougo]

the carrier bearings are a common problem especially if tow pull the diff cover is the oil has a shimmer that is most likely the issue ,mine had bad pitting and i change my oil every 50k

 

[91RS]

If the noise goes away on decel then it is gear noise. Bearings are usually a grinding type noise. It is basically nothing to worry about if there are no other issues unless the noise just bothers you. This was very normal for NBS trucks, my mom's 05 whined from the day she got it at 60k miles and it has 200k on it now (every NBS SUV I've driven does it). My 12 does it with 185k miles on it.

 

[bigdog9191999]

I had the cover rust on my avalanche and lost enough fluid that they whine now even after fixed, no metallic, and all looked good, so I ran it, after the truck was retired a couple years later I pulled the axle and shoved it in the Tahoe ( was damaged from accident before I got it (was the reason I got it)). and it will whines the same to this day. unless it gets much worse I have no intention to do anything about it. and It is pretty noticeable, there is no wondering if it is whining, but it don't get worse after driving 120 miles pulling a 2,000lb trailer so I quit worrying.

 

[George B]

Not the same vehicle but same situation. 2003 Envoy, 100,000 miles on a whining rear axle.

You can drive yourself nuts trying to figure it out. But, if it bugs you you can have a shop look at it. Probably looking at $1500.00 to rebuild it.

 

[Jeffrey Howell]

If the noise goes away on decel then it is gear noise. Bearings are usually a grinding type noise. It is basically nothing to worry about if there are no other issues unless the noise just bothers you. This was very normal for NBS trucks, my mom's 05 whined from the day she got it at 60k miles and it has 200k on it now (every NBS SUV I've driven does it). My 12 does it with 185k miles on it.

Thats good to know. It sounds just like you are describing. I'm just going to check the fluid and not worry about it. Thanks