My parents own a 2006 1500 with the 5.3L. Its has the coil sprung rear end.

A couple days ago they were driving and it started to make a loud tapping sound that was audible from inside. The noise would not appear until you had been driving for a few miles, and would change frequency directly with vehicle speed. The sound would also get louder the longer you drove.

I took it out, and had my dad drive it around a parking lot while I listened. The sound sounds like it is coming from somewhere around the right half of the rear axle. From the outside there is a perceptible squeaking/friction sound that is present at even crawling speed. It also cycles with the turning of the wheel (getting louder as it turns, stops, then restarts quieter). If you increased to speed to around 4 mph or more it would start the tapping, that is very audible from the outside, and more like a banging. this is also linked to speed. The squeak is not really a whine (like a pinion bearing), and I think that it may have something to do with bearings, as it will not occur at any speed (0-50- mph) when it is cold, but has to warm up first.
Any ideas?

Also, the vehicle is well maintained, but with 105,000 miles. Specifically the diff fluid levels were checked at 50,000 and 100,000 thousand miles, and changed at 70,000.
also, I did a search and could not find any threads replicating my problem. I pulled the right rear tire off, to look around, but could not find anything out of order (to my knowledge, my experience lies with Fords.)
Thanks again!

 

Cmon guys, not even a joke about "my experience is with fords..."

 

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There inlies the problem, your experience is with Fords.

 

yup. Thanks for your time.

 

The only thing I can think of is maybe a warped rotor. But that would be very noticeable. Sorry I can't be more help. Well I can say this, my old 01 f-150 had a sticker on the back that said, Found On Road Dead. Thats where all your expierience is... on the road... dead.

 

Thanks, that just may explain the loud sqeak. I am still at a loss with the knock. If it was a problem with the ring and pinion or spider gears, it wouldnt wait till the vehicle had been driven for a bit to make noise. Noise travels funny on vehicles...

 

the knock if you hear it when you give it gas or let off may be the u joints or the gears end play your hearing also check the hub bearings put the truck on a jack and shake the tire side to side and see if theres play in it

 

update:

Checked the diff and transfercase fluids. Rear diff fluid about a quart and a half low. No leaks. I cant do ring and pinion etc... so took it in, they looked at it said there was nothing wrong, that it was lucky as hell nothing was broken. Even though my dad has the paperwork showing diff fluid change and checks (at the mileage I posted earlier) I am sure jiffy lube would have found a way out of paying for it. Since I cant find a single leak, and its been weeks and the fluid level is still topped off, I would have to guess that they didnt refill properly, and then didnt even check the time after that. I guess we are really lucky it was only driven about a mile total after the noise started. When I finished putting a full quart in the diff, and it didnt come to the top, I was sure the axle bearing, pinion etc... were going to be toast.


Thanks guys. I guess this is why I always do my own maintenance.