Rear axle howling/whine

[cranman]

I just bought a new 2021 Essex on a Spartan K3 605 chassis. The rear axle has a loud howling noise at speeds over 65 mph and when climbing hills. Noise goes away instantly when I let up on the throttle. Spartan has been contacted and the dealership did inspect the rear differential oil. Spartan says this chassis does not have the "quiet gear" set. Has anyone else noticed a noise like this?

[vito.a]

It sounds like the hypoid ring and pinion are not set up correctly. They will need to replace the rear end center section.
Unless its low on oil, this should have shown up on the test drive.
Is it getting progressively worse?

[RS505]

Sounds like the ring and pinon are not set correctly. The setup is done with shims, and if the clearances are not right, it will be noisy. Bad bearings sometimes cause noise too.

It's a big job fixing it if something is wrong. If I just dropped big money on a new rig, and it was under warranty, I would make them fix it. Given enough time and miles a incorrectly set up ring and pinon will fail, sometimes dramatically, and it's a really expensive problem when that happens

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by RS505

Sounds like the ring and pinon are not set correctly. The setup is done with shims, and if the clearances are not right, it will be noisy. Bad bearings sometimes cause noise too.

It's a big job fixing it if something is wrong. If I just dropped big money on a new rig, and it was under warranty, I would make them fix it. Given enough time and miles a incorrectly set up ring and pinon will fail, sometimes dramatically, and it's a really expensive problem when that happens

He paid for the factory warranty in the purchase. Make the dealer fix the problem, which will only get worse with time.


There aren't many mechanics remaining who can properly set-up differential gears these days.

[cranman]

Thanks everyone. I know what the problem is and your all correct. I had the same thing on a new 2011 Foretravel. Foretravel sent a tech from Meritor out to listen to it and told me it wasn't the rear end. I told him he was full of B.S. and complained to Foretravel. When I got back down to Texas for some warranty work Foretravel had a new center section sitting there in a crate. Put the new one in and no more noise. I just need to convince Spartan there is a problem. I tried driving with foam ear plugs but they do almost nothing for low frequency noise. I'm still curious if anyone else has had this problem. What are the chances the last 2 of the 7 motorhomes I've owned have this problem.

[Outbound]

X2 on bad ring and pinion, as mentioned need to replace rear end gears.

[153stars]

"Quiet gear set "what is that, one that is set right. .What does sound like while engine braking usually a little noisier.
It doesn't sit abnormally high or low in rear does it to have U joints complaining does it.?
Next visit I would mention this is second attempt to have the issue resolved ask for things like a card or name for of individuals involved place or write in folder.
No experience with RV dealers, but some dealers employees act like warranty issues come out of their pocket or get extra to send you packing. Speak to another place gets paid to resolve them. They twice the work one other side of city and keep customers from then on. I know you have more limited ability to find a second place to go.

[dadej]

Originally Posted by cranman

Thanks everyone. I know what the problem is and your all correct. I had the same thing on a new 2011 Foretravel. Foretravel sent a tech from Meritor out to listen to it and told me it wasn't the rear end. I told him he was full of B.S. and complained to Foretravel. When I got back down to Texas for some warranty work Foretravel had a new center section sitting there in a crate. Put the new one in and no more noise. I just need to convince Spartan there is a problem. I tried driving with foam ear plugs but they do almost nothing for low frequency noise. I'm still curious if anyone else has had this problem. What are the chances the last 2 of the 7 motorhomes I've owned have this problem.

I had this problem on a 2000. Had 50k when sold with no problems other than annoying. Rear ends don't make sounds now days so I would take back ASAP and tell them to fix the noise what ever the problem is.

[House Husband]

I have set up a few hypoid gear sets in my years of playing mechanic. Just last year I had to replace all the bearings in the rear end of my ol Bounder. It took a lot of time just to wash out all the bearing shrapnel from the bad bearing. After pressing on the bearings the work began, with setting the pinion depth and bearing preload. Then setting the ring gear lash and bearing preload.
From you description of the noise, you either have a loose pinion nut or the pinion depth is set incorrectly. It easy enough to drop the drive shaft and check the torque on the pinion nut. If that doesn't fix the noise then the pinion depth is set incorrectly.
As already noted, not many mechanics can set up hypoid gears in this age.

Richard

[153stars]

It's a 2021 Essex , he should have to be messing with anything .They should give him more than lip service.

[Cincy Steve]

Friends had their 2 year old King Aire towed, to a Spartan affiliate, after axle flange gasket failure. The service tech said that there had a been a recent rash of the same problem. A manufacturing issue.

Spartan covered the entire cost, w/o question.