Pinion Bearing Went Out

Tony Conti

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My pinion bearing went out or is starting to (its fucking howling.) I lowered the front of the car 2 inches but didn't do the rear because I have a 305/45R18 in the rear and it fills in the wheel well pretty good and will rub if I hit a big enough bump. Does anyone know if just lowering the front was the cause? Because from what I've read, I changed the pinion angle. If so I was going to put the marching springs in the rear with a set of maybe Viking shocks?

I replaced both rear wheel bearings and seals by the way.

Also anyone have a rough estimate on how much that might cost? Not doing this job at home.
 

stkjock

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I take it you didn't adjust the pinon angle when you lowered the front?
 
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Juice

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Lowering front only does NOT change the pinion angle.

Didn't you just have gears installed??
 
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Tony Conti

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I take it you didn't adjust the pinon angle when you lowered the front?

I got the BMR upper control arm mount when I got the arm so everything was matching. It has three different holes to put the large bolt in for pinion angle. I read that if you don't have the rear lowered that you need to use the top hole. If I lower the rear 2" should I change the bolt location?
 

Juice

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There is little to no chance a pinion angle issue will damage the pinion bearings. However, out of spec pinion angle puts major stress on the universal joint.
 

Tony Conti

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Ok so in theory if I lower the rear the same as the front my pinion angle would be corrected? I don't want to mess anything else up. I know they make tools to measure pinion angle. I would also need to get an adjustable panhard bar now.
 

Juice

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Ok so in theory if I lower the rear the same as the front my pinion angle would be corrected? I don't want to mess anything else up. I know they make tools to measure pinion angle. I would also need to get an adjustable panhard bar now.

Honestly, Lower the rear IMO will NOT correct this. It sounds like this is the result of the upper arm bolt location. Post pic of the upper arm you installed. I think you just need to measure and correct pinion angle .
Lowering rear would not change pinion angle enough to cause issues.
 

Tony Conti

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We're pretty busy at work right now so I'm not able to get a pic. I might be able to throw it up on a lift around 5:30 to get a look at it.
 

Sky Render

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You generally change the pinion angle by adjusting the length of the UCA, not its mount. Adjusting the mounting location changes instant center and anti-squat geometry.

Are you sure it's the pinion bearing that is making the noise?
 

Tony Conti

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I am positive that it is the pinion bearing based on the noises its making. I spoke to a master tech at my work and described what is going on and that I've replaced the wheel bearings and seals. He said its the pinion bearing because if it was the diff it would be making a different noise.
 

Midlife Crises

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Lowering the front of the car does not change the pinion angle relative to the transmission. It does not change the pinion angle relative to the chassis. It only changes the angle relative to the ground which means almost nothing. When you changed the rear upper control arm and mount was the arm adjustable for length? That is how to change the angle. As already stated, the three holes in the mount are for instant center, anti squat adjustment and do not change the pinion angle.
 

Sky Render

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I am positive that it is the pinion bearing based on the noises its making. I spoke to a master tech at my work and described what is going on and that I've replaced the wheel bearings and seals. He said its the pinion bearing because if it was the diff it would be making a different noise.

LOL.
 

Tony Conti

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Lowering the front of the car does not change the pinion angle relative to the transmission. It does not change the pinion angle relative to the chassis. It only changes the angle relative to the ground which means almost nothing. When you changed the rear upper control arm and mount was the arm adjustable for length? That is how to change the angle. As already stated, the three holes in the mount are for instant center, anti squat adjustment and do not change the pinion angle.

Its a non adjustable arm.

Here's a pic of the arm.

Torqued fully when car was in the air.

Thanks for not being a smartass.

uca1.jpg
 

RED09GT

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You need to have the suspension loaded when you torque the bolts or the bushings will be in a bind when the car is at ride height.
Did the noise appear shortly after installing the upper arm?
 

Tony Conti

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You need to have the suspension loaded when you torque the bolts or the bushings will be in a bind when the car is at ride height.
Did the noise appear shortly after installing the upper arm?

Ok I'll re torque the bolt, the noise was starting to happen and then I installed the upper. After that the noise just gradually got worse. I was told that it might be my front tires which I couldn't see that being the case because of the noise I’m hearing. I’ve never heard a tire make this kind of noise. But regardless I'm going to throw on my stock wheels and take it for a spin. I installed the gt500 lower control arms, gt500 strut mounts, new struts and tie rod ends and haven't gotten an alignment yet. I know that sounds stupid but i have two cars and dont drive the mustang as much so it got lost in the list of shit to do. I've put about 1000 miles on it since putting all that on. The tires are NITTO NT01’s.


Sky Render thought that me talking to a tech at my work was funny that's why I said that
 
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Sky Render

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No, noob, I thought it was funny that people here are trying to help you, and your response is "a master tech told me it's the pinion bearing."

Does this master tech understand pinion angles? Has he put chassis ears on the differential housing and actually confirmed where the noise is coming from?

There is a ton of good tech on this forum, including some folks who have actually published technical articles on S197 suspension geometry. Do you want to properly troubleshoot this thing, or do you want to half ass the diagnosis based on what some d00d at work said might be the problem?
 

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