2004 Differential Ring & pinion / Where to find ? | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models

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2004 Differential Ring & pinion / Where to find ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Taurus
  • Start date Start date
Taurus

Taurus

Bronze Member
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16
Thunderbird Year
2004
My 2004, 60.000 miles, makes this middle pitch whine when accelerating between ~ 35-50mph.
Goes away when letting off the gas.

Info in this and other forums mostly suggest the differential ring & pinion are worn and causing the whine.
When searching the part no XW4Z-4209-A it is discontinued, as expected.

Are there any aftermarket ring & pinion kits available ? (I have really tried searching...).

Or, would a differential from a 2004 Lincoln LS fit my bird?
A seller on Ebay states it does not fit.
Wonder if that is right...

// Stefan

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My 2005 with 48,000 miles has the same whine. I had my differential oil changed and the mechanic said if you don’t mind the noise there is no problem driving it. He said it would be very difficult to find parts as well. I know this doesn’t help you but at least you know someone else has the same problem.
 
I had a similar whine on my 2004 and it turned out to be bad wheel bearings. I had them replaced and everything quieted down.
 
Tiger650 said:
My 2005 with 48,000 miles has the same whine. I had my differential oil changed and the mechanic said if you don’t mind the noise there is no problem driving it. He said it would be very difficult to find parts as well. I know this doesn’t help you but at least you know someone else has the same problem.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info.
I dont mind the whine as long as it is ok to continue driving.
I hope my shop will come to the same conclusion as your mechanic.
// Stefan
 
Tiger650 said:
Was your car only making the whining noise between 35-50 mph? That is when mine makes the noise.
Click to expand...

Yes, only then.
I found that likely it is related to the differential.
... or a belt roller with a bad bearing that cause the whine.
... or low fluid in the transmission.
 
Dan Smith said:
Hello
If you find you need one I have a very good used one low mileage. Taken from a wrecked 04 garage kept car.
Dan
************
Click to expand...

Dan, thanks for your note.
The bird is in the shop now and I´m waiting for the verdict.
I´ll let you know if I need your part.
// Stefan
 
It will be interesting to know what the problem is. Please let us know as well as the repair cost if you don’t mind. Thanks!
 
Tiger650 said:
It will be interesting to know what the problem is. Please let us know as well as the repair cost if you don’t mind. Thanks!
Click to expand...

My shops head mechanic is not a specialist in Ford but he has experience from, so to say, different differentials.
He recognized the whine as one of the bearings connected to the differential.
He meant that as long as the whine don´t get louder or change character it is ok to drive for now.
But eventually it has to be taken care of.

He also mentioned that many GM and other makes of US cars and trucks has similar whine from when they are new. And that whine just keep on with everything else working fine.

Well, I hope for the coming summer with no more whine than is now.
If something change I´ll post.

// Stefan
 
I realize this is an old thread, but figured it's better than a new one.

Taurus, any changes in the last 3 years?

My 2005 differential starts whining exactly at 40 mph under power and stops as soon as I let up on the throttle. I'm not sure when, or if there is an upper limit as the other car noises would cover it up.
It's got around 55,000 miles on it. A year ago, as inflation was rearing it's ugly head, I was quoted either $1100, or $1400 to rebuild the unit. Been too long ago to remember the exact price, but the quote was from a shop that did nothing but differentials. They said it would be a 3 day job.
The guy I took for a test drive said that the Camaros were notorious for the same kind of whine.
 
My hunch is what you are hearing is normal - at least when it comes to gear noises. The IRS differential is mounted in a subframe to isolate it from the car body. The bushings in the subframe quiet the really loud (relatively speaking) ring and pinion gears. When the car was new and the bushings were soft and fresh, 99% of this noise was muted. As these bushings age and harden, a little more noise is going to be transmitted into the car. The car/subframe could have been designed to where you would never hear any gear noise, but at the expense of weight, handling, etc. I once had a new Cobra 8.8 diff solid mounted in an RX7 and the gear noise was unbearable. I then had the subframe modified to take the stock RX7 subframe bushings and while it helped a lot, it still transmitted considerably more noise than a 20+ year old Thunderbird.
 
aororex said:
I realize this is an old thread, but figured it's better than a new one.

Taurus, any changes in the last 3 years?

My 2005 differential starts whining exactly at 40 mph under power and stops as soon as I let up on the throttle. I'm not sure when, or if there is an upper limit as the other car noises would cover it up.
It's got around 55,000 miles on it. A year ago, as inflation was rearing it's ugly head, I was quoted either $1100, or $1400 to rebuild the unit. Been too long ago to remember the exact price, but the quote was from a shop that did nothing but differentials. They said it would be a 3 day job.
The guy I took for a test drive said that the Camaros were notorious for the same kind of whine.
Click to expand...
3 years and 20000 miles later the sound is the same during the same circumstances.
Seems so far not being an issue.
But my bird is up for sale so any future issue will not be mine...
 
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