Gears & Axles Driveshafts | Rearends | Differentials | Gears | 12 Bolt | 9 Inch | Dana

Dana S60 howling.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 15, 2010 | 12:01 PM
  #1  
bmxer8699's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
From: dfw
Default Dana S60 howling.

I did a few searches but im getting mixed posts from people.

I have had a dana s60 since i bought my 01 Z28 a year ago, it has 3.73 gears in it, not sure what brand. But when driving it has always been loud as heck, people that get in the car think its broke Just wondering if it was normal, took it to the track a few times and its just fine. Some people say its quiet, some people say its a loud rear end.

Is there anything i can do to quiet it down or is this just how it is?
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2010 | 12:03 PM
  #2  
wrd1972's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,668
Likes: 5
From: Central Kentucky
Default

Another classic case of a bad gear setup. Going to ahve to but new gears and have them set up right the first time and it should run rather quiet. Nothing you can do with the current gears. They are garbage.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2010 | 08:09 PM
  #3  
kenSS's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
From: Gap, PA
Default

Originally Posted by bmxer8699
I did a few searches but im getting mixed posts from people.

I have had a dana s60 since i bought my 01 Z28 a year ago, it has 3.73 gears in it, not sure what brand. But when driving it has always been loud as heck, people that get in the car think its broke Just wondering if it was normal, took it to the track a few times and its just fine. Some people say its quiet, some people say its a loud rear end.

Is there anything i can do to quiet it down or is this just how it is?
sorry man. Mine is quiet.
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2010 | 07:04 PM
  #4  
Blackbirdws6's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 4
From: Millstone Twp, NJ
Default

Quiet here with 3.73`s...best to have it looked at.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2010 | 02:18 PM
  #5  
bmxer8699's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
From: dfw
Default

what would you all recommend for gears brand wise? And how do you think they were setup wrong?
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2010 | 08:13 PM
  #6  
wrd1972's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,668
Likes: 5
From: Central Kentucky
Default

Originally Posted by bmxer8699
what would you all recommend for gears brand wise? And how do you think they were setup wrong?
Motive Performance gears are what I like.

How could it be set up wrong:
Pinion depth could be too shallow
Pinion depth could be too deep
Pinion preload too loose
Pinion preload too tight
Pinion bearings not replaced or installed incorrectly
Crush sleeve if used overly crushed
Too much gear backlash
Too little gear backlash
Too much carrier bearing preload
Too little carrier preload
Carrier bearings not replaced or incorrectly installed
Ugly gear pattern indicating bad gear mesh
Incorrect gear break-in
Not enough gear oil
Improperly machined or lapped gears

As you can see, there are many possibilities that could result in a bad gear setup. It takes some skill and a little luck to nail it.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2010 | 09:03 PM
  #7  
EPP's Avatar
EPP
FormerVendor
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 13,063
Likes: 2
Default

You can also have two gearsets that appear to be identical, both set up the same, and one can be louder than the other. Bob
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 09:15 AM
  #8  
wrd1972's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,668
Likes: 5
From: Central Kentucky
Default

Originally Posted by EPP Automotive Performance
You can also have two gearsets that appear to be identical, both set up the same, and one can be louder than the other. Bob
Yup, gears are just weird like that. How the auto manufacturers do it and keep them rather quiet, in mass production is beyond me.

The gears in the rear-end have many, many times more adjust-ability and range than any other component or assembly on the car including the motor. You have to find the perfect (needle in a haystack) spot in order to ensure they run quiet.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 23, 2010 | 07:47 AM
  #9  
bmxer8699's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
From: dfw
Default

thanks man for the info, sorry i didnt respond earlier, i havent had time to get on recently. So basically my gears could be fine, just loud "just because". I kinda get it now. If thats not the case how will i know if something is wrong?

As you listed there are MANY factors in setting it up right.
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2010 | 02:45 PM
  #10  
MY99TAWS6's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 3
From: Kelowna,BC
Default

Once they have bad pattern pretty sure too late to correct pattern and get them quiet.
The newer dana are supposed to have oem gears,supposedly strange switched over at least think in the lower ratios like my 3.54. My rear end has some decel whine but not much accel whine. However have been fighting some vibration issues but not sure exactly what is the cause yet. And do have a crossmember mounted torque arm which also might transmit some additional noise.
I have heard good things about yukon gears and really if you get a OEM gear for the Dana and its setup right no real reason it should't be pretty darn quiet.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:51 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE