Hi everyone and thank you in advance for your help. I have a 2007 Tahoe. For several months, I've been having this strange rubbing/growling noise that seems to be coming from the back. Its not a metal grinding noise. It almost sounds like a tire with a bulge or something rubbing a tire. It doesn't make the noise at faster speeds. Only when you slow down and only when you let off the gas. The slower you go, the louder it gets, regardless of driving straight or turning. It seems to slow down as the Tahoe slows too which is why I thought I had a bad tire. However, I replaced all 4 tires and it didn't go away. I've had it checked out by a mechanic and the fixed some bearings but didn't solve the noise. It does it every time I drive it. Thank you for your help. This one is literally making me rip my hair out.

 

Sometimes if the backlash on the rear differential is not within speck, it can make a growling noise. Or you may not have enough differential fluid. That's where i would start

 

jack it up and spin the tire by hand see if you can hear it, could be something simple like the dust shield rubbing on the rotor.


Differential related noises are normally more noticeable at highway speed or coasting, if you can only hear it going slow something is probably rubbing

 

I know this is an old thread, but did you ever figure out what happened? I have the same exact sound only at low speeds.

 

Is your dog missing?

 

haha so funny XD