I managed to get my cruiser stuck in 3-1/2 foot deep muddy water over the weekend and it developed a very noticeable howling/buzzing noise on the drive home. The next day I changed all the diff fluids and lubed the drive shafts but the sound remained. I drove it in RWD and FWD and the noise goes away when driven in FWD. I did a little searching and it seems that the pinion bearings area a likely source of the problem. The cruiser had a faint drive train howl before this incident and it may have been getting worse over time. Also there appears to be an oil leak where the pinion shaft exits the third member, the rear diff oil was very metallic looking, and my diff breathers are not extended. Am I on the right track with the pinion bearing theory? Is it likely that my ring and pinion are also damaged and I should plan to replace them as well?
Rear Diff Oil:
Thanks!
Rear Diff Oil:
Thanks!
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