When I'm in gear, and let off the gas - it makes a noise. Consistent with the RPM's, the "whining" gear noise is persisting even after I changed the gear oil in my tranny and transfer case.

What gives? It's not the "clunk-clunk" noise that I get when I go in reverse(suspect ujoint), it's more of a multi-teeth(read:gear) higher pitched noise...as if the gears need lubing. Like I said, I already changed the oil.

What next? Any ideas or hopes for something simple?

Thanks fellas.

typical ring and pinion worn out is a whining when you gas and down shift. coasting should not make a whine.

when it whines while coasting the bearing are usualy coast.

thats been my experience, but could be some thing else....

I agree, I had the same problem w/my toy it was the ring and pinion. the pinion started carving its own pattern on the ring gear. it took a little while to find I already had a new t-case so i rebuilt my tranny, it was the only thing i hadn't replaced at the time my ring and pinion was new.

So it makes the noise in every gear?

I thought it could be due to soaking the diffs.
But the sound is not coming from the rear, it's directly under me, like at the tranny or T-case.

Coasting(neutral) = no noise at all.

Only in gear, and only when the tranny puts a load on the engine -> like when I'm going downhill and using the gear to slow me down.

Also - can't really hear in 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Probably because the speed is too high. But in 2nd and 1st - it whines. Until I take it out gear or stop.

Doesn't make the noise when I accelerate, though. ??

Any way to tell for sure whether it's ring and pinion, tranny, transfer case, or ???

Thanks for the help, ya'll. I really do appreciate it.

if it's from the tranny i would vote for the rear bearing. it can go bad if you use to thick of gear oil or if its too cold out. synthetic works good for that problem.

the transfer case can have alot of tiny metal grainy flakes from the parts and that will deterorate, especialy if you have a lower rated fluid. some shop manuals have changed to high atf ratings since they where originaly printed.


try this put it in reverse get up to a good rpm and let off the gas. if the whine is louder than in foward it's in the tranny. if it's the same or lower it's in the transfer case. that isn't 100% but it always works for me.

more details...describe the sound better...are there any vibrations?

Tranny bearing for sure. My 82 used to do the same thing your describing. It was drivin around like that for years though and the guy who owns it now is still driving on it. In my case it would wine 1st through 3rd but once in 4th it would stop, it was a 4 speed.

sounds like ring/pinion to me. New gears?