clickety clack goes the rear differential

[Mil T]

Can someone identify what the clickety noise is coming from the differential on my 2010 Raptor. It started a couple weeks ago. I finally got to diagnosing it today. It has me stumped. When I spin the axle the spider gears spin with the axles. You can hear the clicking noise in the video attached. It's like playing cards in the spokes of a bicycle type noise. There are no broken, chipped or cracked teeth on the gears. No metal in the oil. I can hear it inside the truck when I slow down to say 5-10 mph. It's pretty distinct in the video. Turn you speakers up. I have 72k miles with a 5.4L. I am not familer with the electric locker these fords use. I only have experience with ARB airs and Detroit lockers. I"ve used synthetic oil in the rear the whole time.
Any ideas from knowledgable techs would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Wilson]

Lack of oil lol did it stop after you put new oil in. Maybe the oil was low and wore out.

 

[Mil T]

Lack of oil lol did it stop after you put new oil in. Maybe the oil was low and wore out.

No it was full of Royal Purple 75-140. I have an other than stock cover that holds an extra pint as well. When I drained it was all there. I'm holding off putting it back on until I get some sort of idea. I may have to just pull the ring and pinyon and carrier to find the problem.

 

[Wilson]

I have an old concrete mixer makes the same noise. Grab it and see if it wiggles. Bet it dose

 

[Mil T]

I have an old concrete mixer makes the same noise. Grab it and see if it wiggles. Bet it dose

Feels about normal for spider gears without putting a gauge on it to see what the backlash is set at.

 

[Wilson]

Hard to tell but is there groves or where patterns on the bottom gear? Also what dose it do if you go forward reverse as fast as you can. Put a little Lucas oil on it or greas bet it stops. I don't recomend the greas but bet it stops if you put it on.

 

[RPG]

pull the axles out the spider gears and the carrier out but be sure to unscrew the ELD plug for the e-locker once that's all out check the bearings on the carrier they might be bad.


Pat
RPG tech/sales

 

[Mil T]

pull the axles out the spider gears and the carrier out but be sure to unscrew the ELD plug for the e-locker once that's all out check the bearings on the carrier they might be bad.


Pat
RPG tech/sales

Pat. Thanks for your advise.
That's going to be my next attempt at finding it but what is weird is that the noise is only when I can turn the axle and the spiders are turning like in the video. I started the truck and put it in gear with the cover off. Then I turned the locker on then off. The carrier turns with the drive shaft and ring gear like it's supposed to but there is no noise. It may come when there is a load on it and it is not up in the air possibly.
I guess I don't' understand the E locker. Why are there spider gears. What locks both axles? Most lockers replace the spiders with the carrier that locks the axles together.

I should be able to take the spiders out of the carrier and then the c-clips off the axles to remove the axles right? Then I should be able to just remove the carrier and reinstall without changing the backlash if nothing is changed right? I'll have to have someone set it back up if I need to change the bearings or do you think it should go back with the same backlash for the ring and pinion.?

 

[RPG]

How's it going Mil?

 

[Mil T]

Long ways to get to the Clickety Clack noise.

So when I first started this thread, I thought my noise was in the rear. As it turns out after removing the rear diff gears, locker etc. I have learned about why there is a noise like this in the back. The E-Locker has a spring in it that looks similar to a piece of slinky spring. Remember those little stair climber toys called the slinky? Well that is what makes the noise when the truck is static and you move the axles like I was doing. The rear diff was just fine and everything looked good for wear etc. So I moved away from that.

I finally found the culprit today after a few weeks of diagnosing and replacing parts etc. I do not remember ever seeing any one have this problem with an IWE Actuator on their truck or posted here.
I am moving this story to an old post I did regarding the front IWE and the weak vacumm line issue that many of you have had. So please go to: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/weak-vacuum-line-grinding-noise-fix-24281/
For the full story.