We have a vw crafter van, the rear axle has started to howl, the front pinnion bearing feels rough when i turn it by hand. iv re built a transt diff is the vw a lot more difficult to do, what tools would i require?

SOURCE: HOWLING NOISES

Did you check your Transmission fluid and your differential fluids make sure there up and I don't know if you checked your rear wheel bearings or not, You can usually tell a wheel bearing when you are driving the car at highway speeds and you go around a corner and it get quite a bit louder Depending on what way you are turning if your turning right and it gets louder it will usually be the right side front or rear. the left usually the left front or back. some cases I have even heard Axles making a Howling Noise. Please let me know what you come up with. And Thanks in advance If I helped you out any. Bear001

SOURCE: 2005 Yukon Front Diff Axle seals

You don't have to remove the whole diff to change the seals, but you will have to seperate it where the shaft meets the carrier housing. There is a clip holding the passenger axle shaft in place that you have to remove to change the seal. The drivers side axle stub can be removed with a little force as there is a spring clip holding that side in.

Mike Butler

• 6674 Answers
• Posted on Feb 01, 2009

SOURCE: Rear axle bearing replacment

Not 100% sure on that vehicle & don't have manual on it at this time, but will say very common that it does have "C" like clip at end of axle. Large pin comes out first, then push axle in slightly & remove clip, & slide axle out.

SOURCE: DANA 35 BEARING REPLACE

If you are going to change one of the pinion bearings you really need to replace both since you will have the pinion shaft out anyway. At the same time you will need to replace the crush sleeve to set the proper load on the pinion bearings. Your Chrysler dealer should have the crush sleeve in stock. The bearings you can just cross reference to another bearing by using the old numbers off the race and bearing. Good luck.

SOURCE: How to remove the rear differential on a 2001 Subaru Forester?

I had a somewhat similar problem: I would hear scratching noise from the rear of the car whenerver I turn. I (reasonably) thought it was the differential and brought the car to the mechanic with this in mind. But it turned out to be a protective cover of one of the rear breaking discs that was bent by an impact. When I was turning the wheel would very slightly bend off the axis and the disc would scratch against the cover. So, it's not always the differential. BTW: I have Forester '03