The pinion bearings - there is a pair of tapered roller bearings- are the main trans shaft bearings that carry the shaft with the pinion gear on the end. This pinion gear - of the ring & pinion - turns the ring gear which drives the axles. The pinion bearings are probably the most highly stressed bearings in the transaxle due to the fact that they are holding the pinion shaft against the ring gear during all power transfer from the engine to the axles. The greater the engine power and the heavy application of the right foot puts more stress on these bearings. The whine comes as the bearings are worn and their surfaces are no longer 'perfect' - it may also have something to do with the tapered type bearing getting 'loose' due to wear.The whine develops into a 'growl' as the engagement of the ring and pinion loses its proper set due to the shaft moving because of play in the bearings. Sometimes the whine is never noticeable and the first 'noise' is the growl. As to why they fail - ? I have known of pinion bearings going bad before 60K and lasting well over 200K. I think you have one factor in the 'contaminants' in the oil, and I also believe the temperatures in the trans - especially in slow hot city driving have to break down the lubrication qualities of the oil. I know one tech who has rebuilt many, many trans who believes that the factory spec for the 'preload' on the pinion bearings may have been to high. The quality of bearings is surely another factor in their lifespan. I believe high quality lubricants [ I run MTL ] and regular changes [ 12-20K ] should give the best life.

posted by 216.239.16...

• In need of a technical explanation(unnecessarily long), AP, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 16:48:58
  • Re: In need of a technical explanation(unnecessarily long), HH, Fri, 8 Mar 2002 12:48:18
  • Re: life of whining pinion bearing?, RedSkunk, Wed, 6 Mar 2002 20:35:50
  • May not be a pinion, Jonathan, Wed, 6 Mar 2002 10:15:00
    • I like this one..., burlyb, Wed, 6 Mar 2002 10:41:49
      • layshaft, Graham, Wed, 6 Mar 2002 11:04:15
        • Re: layshaft, Dr Rock, Wed, 6 Mar 2002 12:38:30
          • No whine coasting in Neutral n/m, AP, Wed, 6 Mar 2002 18:26:40
  • Re: In need of a technical explanation(unnecessarily lo, burlyb, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 18:10:00
    • what does gear lash sound like?, Hans, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 19:29:41
      • well mine...., AP, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 20:08:20
  • pinion whine, in my case ..., Kevin K , Tue, 5 Mar 2002 17:54:04
  • Re: In need of a technical explanation(unnecessarily long), BobD, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 17:18:34 <-- Viewing This Message
  • as in ring and pinion gear set, dave n, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 17:03:37
    • Re: as in ring and pinion gear set, AP, Tue, 5 Mar 2002 17:13:21

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