Chevy & GMC Vans

I started to notice a whine coming from some where in the back of my van. It kind of sounds like I am driving on a set of mud tires.. more of a hummm than a whine...So I have it narrowed down to a wheel bearing, the diff, a U-joint or something else.... I no I am correct but just dont know which one... I will have to put it up on jack stands and check it out, I notice (since I bought it) it has always had a slight clunk beetween drive and reverse, like a bad U-Joint. Any leads would be great

Someone wrote:I started to notice a whine coming from some where in the back of my van. It kind of sounds like I am driving on a set of mud tires.. more of a hummm than a whine...So I have it narrowed down to a wheel bearing, the diff, a U-joint or something else.... I no I am correct but just dont know which one... I will have to put it up on jack stands and check it out, I notice (since I bought it) it has always had a slight clunk beetween drive and reverse, like a bad U-Joint. Any leads would be great

It could be the notorious Pinion growl, LOL , I had the Dealer fix mine cause I noticed the problem just after buying the van, there fix was to replace the entire rear-end which was fine with me ( at the time ) except I found out later
that they replaced it with a rear-end that didn't have the G-80 in the diff, just
something to watch for if you go this route.

edit:, If its possible, have somebody get in the back of the van and put there ear near the carpet in the area above the diff, if you don't have a rear 3rd row seat all the better, you will definitly be able to centre in on the sound whether its the pinion or a wheel bearing ( wheel bearings will become more apparent when you load up the wheel going into a turn )

Tristan, Invest in a inexpensive stethescope. Get one with a metal tip. use this to listen to your diff when it up on jack stands. You can remove this metal tip for other test like whistle/whines/hoots etc.
As Zam mentioned, it is likely a diff bearing.

I will try that... I actually have a nice long pry bar that doubles as a stethescope that fits my ear very nicely...
You forgot the warning though...

....Don't forget to pull the AWD fuse!

Someone, I'd be willing to bet it is the rear U-joint, I just went through 3 months of investigation/repairs to find out that my factory u-joint had finally rusted up and was fixed into one position. I'd bet you are getting a little vibration as well, probably doesn't amount to much, but you can still feel something different in your butt. That would be the giveaway, if you can feel it with your tuned a**!! Take a real close look at the rear joint, and while you're at it, the front as well. I replaced 'em both for $35 and .5 hrs for each one. Now she hums along without a sound.

Along the same lines, I have a sound coming from the drivers side front.
Not the brake pads and not the front drive shaft. Am I hearing the cv joint or wheel bearing?
How hard is a cv joint r&r?
Help guys

CV shaft isn't that hard to R&R. Lockdoc and I had his out in less than 30 minutes and less than that putting it back in.

Can anybody post a how to with pics?

Well I am 99% sure it is the right rear wheel bearing... I pop it in drive with the axle in the air and it humms like crazy... I can also feel a tiny bit of play in the wheel and I have had a small clunk back there for a long time... Is this a normal old school type bearing or is it a sealed bearing I need to press?

Hey guys, not my cv joints but my left front wheel bearing. Gonna re-pack after this rainstorm were having here.

Small world huh, Someone?
Your rear wheel and my front

Front wheel bearings on AWD vans aren't serviceable, they are "unitized" and have to be replaced as an assembly. They can cause your anti-lock brakes to not work when they begin to fail, just ask Petey.

Hey Phil, I have a used one that was on my 98 for about a year and a half. I know new they were $240, how does $100 shipped sound?

ds99 wrote:CRAP! Thought it would be an easy fix this time for once...

That's exactly the way I felt the first time I had to put them on the wifes old jimmy. determined it needed bearings and headed to the parts store with a nice crisp $50.00 from our christmas present. Man, that sucked to find out I needed three more.

Hey Dean, Thanks for the offer. I'll have to wait and see what the Boss in the Skirt wants to do. Her dad owes her some mechanic work so we'll see what happens...

BTW,

tristan, how's the rear bearings going?