George V

I am running a 02 with about 425HP at the wheels with a mild cam, (DTE Built) 390 gears and standard drive train.
Question is in the past several months I am experiencing a gear whine or bearing noise when on the gas and it has been getting louder over time. Mostly on the highway when under power, let of the throttle and it goes away. Also quiets down after time, I assume warm up.
Any ideas? Sounds like its coming from the clutch area but makes more sense for the rear gears.

alankb

I have about 50 miles on new 3:90 gears from WCC. I know they don't do their own rebuilding, so don't know where it actually came from. BUT...almost two distinct noises. Low speed sounds like metal on metal brakes. (They're almost new.) Highway speed is a high pitched gear whine. Not real loud, as the heater will drown it out, but irritating none the less!

Could it be inherent to the 3:90 gears? I hope not, but at the same time, I sure don't want to pull the thing back out and send it away!

Amazing performance difference, by the way! Of course, a lot of that has to do with Chucks, COW, tune!

George V

I have had the gears for a while so the gears never made this noise before. I was just reading another post with a whining noise but mine is only when I am on the gas and getting louder so something is going on.

I like the 390’s but doing it again I would do 373’s. With 425 at the wheels I have to shift too quick in 1st and no traction

alankb

Auto trans here, so there is a huge difference. I had the 3:15 gears before, but could barely spin the tires. Not that I plan on burning up my new Michelins...

I'll get a few miles on the diff and see what the oil looks like, then go from there. Its still freaking winter here in Utah.

George V

Anyone have any suggestions as to where a whine would be coming from when on the gas only?

NukeC5

From the ring an pinion. That is what is under load when on and off the throttle. I have a brand new RPM stage-II diff that makes slight noise when on the throttle. Its very upsetting that new gears are doing this, especially because gear noise is one of the reasons I changed the diff. But its in the car now, working great, and way, way less noticeable than my last diff, so I plan to live with it.
Yes, I was very **** with the break in procedure. Im just beginning to think that few in this world can actually build one of these diffs. GM couldn't even get their own diffs right some of the time. Hence why 3.42 cars are always experiencing gear whine.

Mr. Jones

George you mentioned that you have had the gears for a while.
Is that years? I remember some soft gears back in 2004 or 05.
I had gear noise on a set of 3.90 it toke about 9000 miles.
Replaced them and I probably have 30,000 on this set with only the slightest noise.

George V

I was thinking it might be the Diff but sure sounds like its coming from the clutch, or at least up front. I know its hard to tell as the sound could be transmitted along the drive train.
Yes the gears have been several years, probably 10K or more on them. Strange thing is it was fine for a long time but getting worse quick. I even got the hardened gear set micro finish but probably was BS anyway

NukeC5

Ya, quiet micro polish thats why mine has had nose since day one. Great sales ploy they have.

George V

So did your diff noise seem to come from towards the front of the car?

alankb

There is no doubt about mine. It's the diff. Might be 'cause mines an auto and doesn't transfer the noise up the driveline.

NukeC5

Same here.. auto.. hard to say without hearing yours in person

sircampsalot2

Ive had my gears changed in my 4x4 before and had the same thing after about a year, You need to have someone set the lash on them and it will quit whinning

alankb

If it gets any louder I'll go in there myself,,,,,,as I should have done in the first place! I don't know who built mine, but I know I could've done it better! I just didn't want to take the time. Oh, and all this time and I don't have my $1,200.00 core charge refund yet.

Not bad mouthing WCC yet.......

vettenuts

George,

Sorry to hear this. Hope I am not going to find the same thing soon as I installed mine shortly after you did. I did change my fluid twice since installation, once after break in and then a few years later. My Suburban did this for years. Never had any problems with it but it was obnoxious.

Wonder if it could be within the torque tube if it sounds like its coming from the clutch area? Have you tried pulling the shifter boot to get a better idea if it is in the front?

George V

Hi Bob. I am going to change the fluid and see what happens. Funny thing is the noise decreases after about 15 to 20 minutes on the highway. I have notice this getting louder for a while but the other day my wife finally noticed it. So I figured if it is loud enough for her to notice something must be wrong LOL. I can try removing the shifter boot but it really sounds like a howl coming from the clutch area.

0Chuck CoW

Hey man... Saw your post. Take a closer look....

While noises in the rear end and clutch are far from obscure, The rubber guibos of the

torque tube in the older C5s are drying out from age and heat and I see a bad one making

noise almost every week or so in the shop.


If the diff is not leaking and the fluid looks good, you're probably ok.

Noises in the drivetrain TRAVEL and are difficult to track down.

If you're planning to pull it out and check the clutch, you will be very surprised

at the condition of the quibos. It's also not uncommon to have a bent shaft that continues to

eat guibos......

As time goes on, more and more you're going to find C5s eating quibos and torque tubes.

Chuck CoW

Bill Curlee

100% on the mark!

I have seen TOO MANY torque tube couplers in the past MONTH ready to fail. They crack and dry out and become out of round. They can cause under load noises and weird vibrations.

Before you get way deep into the drivetrain, Give that a shot!

If they are the stock OEM rubber couplers,, look there first!

Check out this post and look at thread #5 for an example of what Chuck is talking about and what we are seeing on old couplers:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ling-help.html

Bill

vettenuts

Well, if Chuck and Bill are correct, I am likely right behind you with this problem Let us know what you find out.

George V

Thanks for the replies guys. I have bee away and will dig into it. Sounds like I have to drop the drive train either way