Diff Housing/Oil Temps

[keithb7]

I am attempting to track down a driveline vibration. Seems to be happening when accelerating from a stop while turning left. Unknown history of diff and drive line maintenance. I Changed the diff oil in July. Not many miles use since June. Will take a diff oil sample soon for analysis. 
 

This weekend I drove at hiway speeds for about an hour. No issues. Got home and immediately used a laser thermometer to check u-joint and diff housing temps. Ujoints all seemed fine and no hot bearings. Rear Diff housing pumpkin measured about 100F. Housing near pinion recorded about 120F.  Is there something maybe going on with a pinion bearing? Any idea on normal housing temps after a good drive?  Looking for any clues as to where to look from here. Thx. 

[Mopar1973Man]

Things to check...

 

Balance of tires - oversized tires can get out of balance quick.

Track bar - this can create wear pattern and also unbalance the tires.

Driveshafts - remove them to check slop of each joint.

Pinion bearing - with the driveshaft out you can check the bearing slop.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

What about clutches in rear diff. 

[Dieselfuture]

5 minutes ago, Ed ke6bnl said:

What about clutches in rear diff. 

I was going to say the same thing, if he has limited slip it may be clutch chatter his hearing, these take limited slip additive. Or possibly something is coming undone in the rear end. 

[Evan]

Make sure pinion nut is tight. Mine somehow backed off. Allowed pinion to walk in and out if ring gear. It did some damage but I'm still running it..

 

Front drive line can vibrate and sound like its coming from the rear of the truck. 

 

I dont think 120 is that hot but it us warmer than the rest. 

[Mopar1973Man]

On 12/10/2019 at 10:34 AM, Ed ke6bnl said:

What about clutches in rear diff. 

 

That is one problem I'm glad I don't have in any vehicles I own. Standard open diffs. No heat, no wear, and no problem.

 

Clutches will only affect how it corners. Like making left or right turns sharp then the clutches have to release and slip a bit hence why you need friction modifier to keep it from chattering. This will add heat to the diff if the clutch are slipping excessively. 

Edited December 12, 2019 by Mopar1973Man

[keithb7]

Just following up to say that I added a second small bottle of friction modifier and the symptoms are gone. I had added one at the time I changed the diff oil. Apparently its not enough. I also took an oil sample in December and sent it in for analysis. I last changed the diff oil in June, I think. The oil sample came back good. I am in good shape again it seems.  

Edited January 16, 2020 by keithb7

[dripley]

Good to hear the problem is solved.