99PTA

I just got my gears installed..... and its real quite back there but what does gear whine sound like.... is it loud? annoying? is it really noticeable? does it hinder performance? at what rpm or Mph does it usally occur?

thanx for your help

ta12sec

iTrader: (3)

"is it loud?" Sometimes yes sopmetimes no.

"annoying?" That depends on houw loud you exhaust is and your radio is.

"is it really noticeable?" Same answer as above"

"does it hinder performance?" No, I dont think so, does it hinder gear life, yes.

"at what rpm or Mph does it usally occur?" Im sure it will be diffrent on every vechicle.

99PTA

Hmm well is the whine.... like the whine of a supercharger... or a loud Hmmm .....i guess i just need to hear someones with whine to it

When you say it might hinder gear life.... like are we talking it could bust in days, months,... or year or two?

1ScrudeDude

Gear whine is almost a natural phenomenon with modded (and some unmodded!) LS1's. I declare myself as "experienced" in this area since I had a gear swap epsiode that cost me $1700.00 when all was said and done. I won't bore you with the details, but it involved gear whine at the very least.

Gear whine is precipitated by many causes. Some of them include improper set up, such as:

1) Improper backlash
2) Improper pinion depth
3) Not matching the pre-run numbers stamped on the ring/pinion set

Finding a great installer can be a bit difficult. Try to find one that has done FBod rears because factory spec mechanics aren't usually "****" about the set up. If you're not dialed in perfectly, you will get whine. We're talking about thousandths of an inch here.

Some gears will whine no matter what. Aftermarket gears have a higher nickel content, which makes them stronger for racing but a little bit noisier. Also, the higher the gear ratio, the more likely to hear noise. The smaller pinion is turning crazy rpms which induces more sound transmission through the differential.

Whine ranges from slight to firetruck siren. Mine progressed from slight to ears-ringing when I got out of the car. Depending on the imperfection, it has a wide range. Some whine on accel, others on decel, and some do it no matter what you're doing. Mine was particularly noticeable in 5th and 6th gear, probably because the rpms are lower, allowing me to hear the whine better. Right now, I get a slight "harmonic whine" which is just the gears turning that creates a sound frequency that becomes audible from the drivers seat from 55-70mph. I barely hear it though.

I know one thing for sure, it is rare that a whine goes away. Most of the time, it will only get louder, especially after some hard launches and bangin' through the gears.

I hope this helps...

99PTA

Ok thanx

99PTA

When you say it might hinder gear life.... like are we talking it could bust in days, months,... or year or two?
__________________

1ScrudeDude

It depends on how "out-of-specs" it was.

I chewed up a Motive 4.10 set in 5 days, with little or no hard driving. The louder the noise, the worst your problem is. Usually.

ta12sec

iTrader: (3)

"I chewed up a Motive 4.10 set in 5 days, with little or no hard driving. The louder the noise, the worst your problem is. Usually."

And chances are ifs not that loud today........................it will be soon.

99PTA

Ok....... well around 40 if i just give it enough gas to stay at that constint speed.... there is a Hmmmm that i really hadnt heard before... not sure if it my gear of my cutout and i just never noticed before... i hope i'm not just hearing things

ta12sec

iTrader: (3)

Try manualy selecting 3rd gear, does it still make the noise.

99PTA

ok let me try that.......... if it does still make the sound.... does that automactilly mean thats bad?

ta12sec

iTrader: (3)

No, some gears are noisey, some have more aduable harmonics. If its just at 40 with steady pressure, I wouldnt be to worried. What I would do is check your u-joints for wear, and also check your pinion bearing when your under there. Up/down movement in the yoke is sign of pinion bearing failure.

99PTA

How much for a new bearing?

ta12sec

iTrader: (3)

You need to get under the car and check it out before you start condeming parts. But IF I had to guess about 20-30$.

samz28

i noticed a slight vibration at a specific harmonic speed (steel driveshaft) after having a ES poly trans mount installed correctly (no metal block). I'd probably guess its more driveshaft/train related than gear. My GM new gears are deathly silent after many miles. I did go all out to ensure brand new parts all around and a great installer. Didn't want to deal with whine.

99PTA

Ok i too have a steel driveshaft...... and it seemed they were silent for about a week now i hear this slight hmm at around 40 mph.

99PTA

ok well now..... that i really just got out and tested it........ ok it starts at for but if i hold it steady at any speed above 40 it Hmmmmmms...... and as i get towards 70-80ish its pretty loud (by loud just more noticable)....note: no vibration though.

samz28

unbalanced driveshaft would probably be felt more than heard. the steelies aren't known for their excellent balance. Then again they aren't known for twisting like the aluminum ones do.

I'd be concerned. my gears (3.42) still are silent at all speed. The ES poly trans mount just added a little vibration and helped the movement a bit (headers rattling, damn pacesetters).

why don't you take it back and show the mechanic? He should fix it (or someone else) before it becomes metal pieces floating around your zexel.

ta12sec

iTrader: (3)

I missed the just got installed part, take that **** back make em fix it, and if they say its normal get a written warrenty.

samz28

nobody will warrant a 10 bolt lol.