Rear end noise

I drive my 89 as much as I can and I started to notice that a low pitch noise,kind of a rumble, was coming from the passenger side rear end. I hear it the hole time the Vette is in motion. I thought it might be the brake pads worn down,but they are new and every thing seems to be tight. A lot of moving parts down there. Any body have any idea what I mite look for?

Hi grestmit, you could have a rear wheel bearing assembly going out. You can raise the rear wheels off the ground and see if there is any side ways movement. Have you checked the differential oil level?

quote:

ORIGINAL: grestmit

I drive my 89 as much as I can and I started to notice that a low pitch noise,kind of a rumble, was coming from the passenger side rear end. I hear it the hole time the Vette is in motion. I thought it might be the brake pads worn down,but they are new and every thing seems to be tight. A lot of moving parts down there. Any body have any idea what I mite look for?

 
Does it change with vehicle speed?
 
Does it change when the brakes are applied?
 
Does it change when de-cellerating, without brakes?
 
Turning?
 
Reverse?
 
Coasting in neutral?

It makes a constant low rumble noise at all speeds and at braking.

I have not checked diff.fluid level yet,but will do so. I need to do a lube job any way.Time to upgrade shocks as well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: grestmit

It makes a constant low rumble noise at all speeds and at braking.

 
That is a BIG clue right there - constant . Are you sure - constant?
 
Go to a big parking lot, and try to get the same tune in reverse. AND, once you get good speed in reverse, drop to neutral, to quiet the ancillary/tranny noise.
 
Unless, you can already tell you got the same sound in reverse.

Sounds like a bearing assembly/hub. If it is, get ready to spend some money, about 200.00 bucks a side just for the part and takes about 2 hours a side to change.

That's what I'm thinking. But the hub assembly that I have found so far is a bit more than the $200. That is if I Want to keep the ABS, more like $280. If that is the problem,I might as well upgrade a few other parts in the rear end. I'm wanting to change the gears out but not sure what set to get. I have 2.59 rear gears now. Thought about 3.07. What do you think?

I know it's not coming from the trans area. It does not make noise sitting at a light, but it does make noise going backwards

Hi grestmit, anything lower than what you have now is going to affect your fuel mileage, but if thats not an issue, go for it. For a real kick in the pants, I personally like the 3.73 as long as the car has an overdrive, 3.42 is a good one too, the only difference I could see between the two is the 3.42 has one more tooth on the pinion gear than the 3.73. If you do decide to go with the 3.07, you'll still be pleased with the way she gets up and moves. Either way, make sure whoever sets it up knows what they are doing, any more or less than .008 of an inch clearance of backlash between the teeth, can cause the rear end to roar, or, you'll hear the gears clash when you drop it in gear.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mech259

Sounds like a bearing assembly/hub. If it is, get ready to spend some money, about 200.00 bucks a side just for the part and takes about 2 hours a side to change.

 
Ya' think since he can hear it in reverse, that it's still the bearing? Seems to me ya' don't hear bearings till about 20 - 25 mph.
 
I thought I had the turtle gears there, grest, but the build codes show one even slower than that (courtesy of lees):
 
1984 - 1996 Corvette RPO Codes

* 00L - Only primer secondary (lower) exterior
* 00U - Only primer exterior
* 01L - Special non-Corvette secondary (lower) exterior
* 01U - Special non-Corvette exterior
* 02L - Special not color charted secondary (lower) exterior
* 02U - Special not color charted exterior
* 05L - Dark purple Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 05U - Dark purple Metallic exterior
* 103 - White leather interior 1984-92
* 103 - Arctic White leather interior 1993-96
* 10I - Arctic White interior
* 10T - Arctic White convertible top
* 10U - White exterior 1984-92
* 10U - Arctic White exterior 1993-96
* 113 - White leather interior
* 119 - White safety belts
* 11P - White wheels
* 11T - White vinyl convertible top
* 122 - Graphite leather interior
* 12C - Graphite cloth interior
* 12I - Graphite interior trim
* 12V - Graphite cloth sport seats
* 13L - Silver Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 13U - Silver Metallic exterior 1985-88
* 13U - Sebring Silver Metallic exterior 1996
* 143 - Light Gray leather interior
* 144 - Light Gray leather interior
* 14I - Light Gray interior trim
* 152 - Medium Gray leather interior
* 15C - Medium Gray cloth interior
* 15I - Medium Gray interior trim
* 15V - Medium Gray cloth sport seats
* 16L - Bright Silver Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 16T - Bright White convertible top
* 16U - Bright Silver Metallic exterior
* 17P - Silver Gray wheels
* 18L - Medium Gray Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 18U - Medium Gray Metallic exterior
* 192 - Black leather interior
* 193 - Black leather interior
* 194 - Black leather interior
* 195 - Black leather interior
* 199 - Black safety belts
* 19C - Black cloth interior
* 19G - Black cloth interior
* 19I - Black interior trim
* 19T - Black convertible top
* 19U - Black exterior
* 1AA - Delete marketed base option package
* 1AY - Stock order
* 1AZ - Modification stock order or order sold

* 1BL - Components of Z51 performance handling package
* 1CS - Modification order caravan driveway
* 207 - Sport package
* 20L - Light Blue Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 20U - Light Blue Metallic exterior 1984-85
* 20U - Medium Blue Metallic exterior 1986-89
* 212 - Blue leather interior
* 21C - Blue cloth interior
* 21I - Medium Blue interior trim
* 219 - Medium Blue safety belts
* 223 - Steel Blue leather interior
* 229 - Steel Blue safety belts
* 22I - Steel Blue interior trim
* 22T - Blue convertible top
* 23L - Medium Blue Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 23U - Medium Blue Metallic exterior
* 24S - Blue tint roof panel
* 25L - Steel Blue Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 25U - Steel Blue Metallic exterior
* 282 - Medium Blue leather interior
* 28C - Medium Blue cloth interior
* 28I - Medium Blue interior trim
* 28U - Admiral Blue exterior 1994-96
* 28U - Dark Blue Metallic exterior 1988-89
* 28V - Medium Blue cloth sport seats
* 31U - Arctic Pearl exterior
* 33L - Light Driftwood Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 33U - Light Driftwood Metallic exterior
* 34T - Beige II convertible top
* 35U - Yellow exterior
* 4001ZA - Malcolm Konner Special Edition
* 40A - White accent stripes
* 40L - White secondary (lower) exterior
* 40U - White exterior
* 41I - Black interior trim
* 41L - Black secondary (lower) exterior
* 41P - Black wheels
* 41T - Black convertible top
* 41U - Black exterior
* 42U - Turquoise Metallic exterior
* 43U - Bright Aqua Metallic exterior
* 45U - Polo green II Metallic exterior 1992-93
* 45U - Polo green Metallic exterior 1994-96
* 53U - Competition Yellow exterior 1990-96
* 53U - Gold Metallic exterior 1984-87
* 592 - Silver Beige leather interior
* 59L - Silver Beige Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 59U - Silver Beige Metallic exterior
* 602 - Saddle leather interior
* 603 - Saddle leather interior
* 609 - Saddle safety belts
* 60C - Saddle cloth interior
* 60I - Saddle interior trim
* 622 - Saddle cloth interior
* 62C - Saddle cloth interior
* 62I - Saddle interior trim
* 62V - Saddle cloth sport seats
* 63L - Light Bronze Metallic secondary (lower) exterior
* 63U - Light Bronze Metallic exterior
* 643 - Light Beige leather interior
* 649 - Light Beige safety belts
* 64I - Light Beige interior trim
* 64S - Bronze roof panel
* 652 - Bronze leather interior
* 65C - Bronze cloth interior
* 65I - Bronze interior trim
* 65V - Bronze cloth sport seats
* 66U - Copper Metallic exterior 1986-94
* 66U - Dark bronze Metallic exterior 1984-85
* 67T - Saddle vinyl convertible top
* 68T - Beige convertible top
* 68U - Dark red Metallic exterior 1989-90
* 68U - Ruby red Metallic exterior 1993
* 69U - Medium brown Metallic exterior
* 703 - Red leather interior
* 704 - Red Collector edition leather interior
* 705 - Red & black Grand Sport leather interior
* 70I - Torch red interior trim
* A-2 - Leather seats
* A-8 - Leather sport seats
* A1E - Oshawa delivery, additional windshield washer fluid
* A26 - European windows
* A42 - Standard leather seats
* A4G - Canadian requirements deleted
* A51 - Sport leather seats deleted
* A5J - Canadian accounting purposes
* AC1 - Power passenger sport seat
* AC3 - Power driver sport seat
* ACM - Vehicle lead unit
* AG1 - Power driver sport seat
* AG2 - Power passenger sport seat
* AG9 - Power driver seat
* AJ3 - Airbag restraint system
* AK5 - Inflatable seats
* AQ9 - Sport seats - cloth (1984)
* AQ9 - Sport seats - leather
* AR9 - Base seats - leather
* AS8 - Manual restraint seats
* AS9 - Cloth sports seats
* AU0 - Remote entry second transmitter
* AU3 - Power door locks
* AV3 - Cargo tie down fastener
* AX4 - European manual restraint seat
* B-8 - Cloth sport seats

* B16 - Special option package processing
* B1T - Plant build-out
* B1X - Optional steering gear ratio
* B18 - 35th anniversary interior ornamentation
* B2B - Components of Z52 sport handling package
* B2K - Callaway twin-turbo
* B2M - First three weeks orders
* B3W - Advance price sheet
* B4H - Export noise control modification
* B4M - Custom feature package
* B4P - Radiator cooling boost fan
* B4Z - Custom option package
* B57 - 35th anniversary exterior ornamentation
* B6R - Decal package
* B74 - Moldings for extra wide wheels
* B9K - Cloth trim, Processing option
* BAG - Lose parts package
* BGR - Bowling Green assembly
* BP4 - Radiator boost fan
* BX1 - Front end special ornamentation

* C05 - Convertible folding top
* C18 - Export windshield washer, arms and blades
* C2L - Dual removable roof panels
* C49 - Electric rear window defogger
* C60 - Manual air condition
* C68 - Automatic electronic air condition
* CC2 - Auxiliary hardtop
* CC3 - Transparent roof panel
* CF7 - Non-transparent roof panel

* CVA1 - Marketed option package 2
* CVAB - Marketed option package 1

* CYA1 - Marketed option package 2
* CYAB - Marketed option package 1

* D3W - Speedometer driven gear 25513044 red
* D3X - Speedometer driven gear 25513049 green
* D36 - Export inside rearview 10" tilt mirror

The noise has been buggin me for about a year now. It's not loud by no means,just annoying when I'm by my self driving. by the way, where did you come up with the code list. I have been trying to decode my Vette since I bought it. Thankswhat I have been lookin for.

I have always tried to get good gas mileage with most of the cars I have had over the years. But let's face it, what's a Vette that can turn on a dime and not enough power to take a Viper or whatever. I have gas savers, this is not going to be one. I want the Vette to do that  sometime down the road. One I can drive daily like I do now. You know , a sleeper, you do not know it's there untill it is to late.  The 3.42 or 3.72 sound good to me. I need to find out what rear end I do have then I will decide.

quote:

ORIGINAL: grestmit

The noise has been buggin me for about a year now. It's not loud by no means,just annoying when I'm by my self driving. by the way, where did you come up with the code list. I have been trying to decode my Vette since I bought it. Thankswhat I have been lookin for.

LEES posted it up when I was tryin' to figure out what some part was...
http://www.corvetteforums.com/m_39158/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm

...and I DO have the turtle gears - 2.59:1.



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MAN, I WISH I HAD SOME LETTUCE TO GO WITH MY AIR FOILS. YUM. BUT HOLD THE ONIONS AND BOLTS -  

EDIT: THAT'S BASHIN' MY OWN AGAIN THERE SNO' - TRY NOT TO GET OFFENDED AGAIN.