Rear End Noise

hookemtx120

So I started to get the dreaded rear end noises during hunting season. Once the season was over I decided to try for the first time to take down the axle and replace ALL the bearings. After a lot of blood, sweat, tears and the frequent cursing, I finally got them all replaced and everything put back together. The noise is gone, but now I have a new one (or one that was already there but could not hear because of the other noises). As long as I am using the accelerator there is no noise, as soon as I lift off the accelerator, it sounds like metal hitting metal. If I slow down but still keep some pressure on the accelerator, no noise. The noise is only there when I slow down without using the accelerator. Probably something stupid that I should know, but I am new to working on axles and gears.

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

yurtle

I also changed all bearings in my '98, and it does the same. I also hoped for a truly stealth cart, but like me, it's getting older. Does your noise change if turning right or left while coasting? Mine is the same but gets louder while turning (way too fast) one way and a little quieter while turning the other direction.

hookemtx120

Thanks for the reply. I actually did not try steering right or left, I am going to try this out this weekend and see. Another person told me it could be in the motor. I am going to try and borrow a friends extra motor and put it in this weekend and see if that solves the problem.

yurtle

If you could record it and attach a file (if you can do that?) I can tell you if it's the same as mine. I have a new motor, and it still does it.

When I redid mine, I saved all the oil and placed a powerful magnet in it. As expected, there were a small amount of metal particles. There is now more slop between parts than there was when it was new.

hookemtx120

OK, so I recorded a video on my iphone as a .mov and then converted to zip. Not sure if this will work, but here goes. Interestingly enough, my original motor was a high torque D&D and the one I put it was AMD7124 beast. It is A LOT faster then the D&D, but the torque is not as good. My old motor could climb this high concrete embankment in front of my shed, and the beast just sits there, tires do not even spin to try and get traction. Anyway, I hope the attachment works.

Attached Files

IMG_0625.zip (4.24 MB, 0 views)

yurtle

Perfect! That's EXACTLY how mine sounds, after having replaced all bearings. I assume it's just old age. Like yours, mine only makes that sound while coasting. My guess is while the motor is pushing, the slop in the gears is taken up.

I'm sure there are experts that can use proper terminology.

hookemtx120

Thanks for the feedback, I thought I was going crazy, I did not know what else to do besides start replacing gears but they all look good to me.

Like you said, maybe someone else has some thoughts on this.

cgtech

What you're describing sure sounds like gear noise to me. If I were you, and not interested in replacing all gears right now, I would make up a gear lube concoction of 50/50 gear oil & Lucas oil stabilizer. That is guaranteed to reduce noise some. And just live with it for now. Also, stick a neodymium magnet in the pan to catch any metal particles. The noise is common as they get older and more worn. These axles have no gear lash adjustment, and the gears just "fit how they fit". Just feel lucky you don't have an old club car axle, they sound like a fire truck siren.

FluxCapacitor

Excellent idea! Many car and trucks have magnets in axles and in transmissions cases (or pans) to catch metal wear particles.

On a side note: Car manufacturers are mostly not recommending early 1st oil changes anymore but I’ve seen spectacularly glittery oil (from metal particles) in brand new cars with just a few hundred miles on them. Shining a flashlight through the draining oil gives a good view of the metal particles.

yurtle

When I drained my buggy's rear end oil, I saved it in a jar, with a rare earth magnet inside the jar. After rebuilding the rear end, I pulled out the magnet. I really expected more, but what I found was constantly circulating inside the rear end, which caused more wear than if it had been trapped by a magnet inside the rear end.