Martian

This morning, I noticed when I brake to a full stop and then take off again, I get an odd whistling or low-pitched whining. It doesn't occur when I let the vehicle slow naturally and then take off again. It sounds rotational, matching the speed of the wheels. I searched around here and found everything from the IWE solenoid to the rear differential to the drivers' side door needing a strip of electrical tape. Problem is, I can't really tell where the sound is coming from.

Are there more specific details I need to gather up, or does this sound familiar to anyone?

Martian

Added information: I don't know if the sound continues as I pick up speed. It seems to go away after I reach 10-15mph, but wind noise may be drowning it.

Martian

Update: pretty sure it's the rear diff. When cold, there's no sound. after driving for a bit, it squeaks on takeoff. I'm going to change the oil in it (when the oil gets here) and see how it sounds.

How long can I drive like this before the rear diff gets seriously damaged?

Martian

Update - Final: SOLVED!

The parking brake levers in the wheel baking plates were rusted and seized up so badly, if you didn't know they were two pieces, you'd swear they were one. I soaked them first in white vinegar saturated with salt (dissolved until grains were no longer soluble), then hit them with a wire brush. Then I did that all over again, except this time with PB Blaster, same process. After the second wire brushing, I put them on a slab of concrete and knocked them apart with a rubber mallet and repeated the PB Blaster soaking / brushing. Saves me $60 on new ones! Now I just have to get new shoes and a hardware kit. The shoes are horribly shot. I removed the entire brake completely, less the cables.

New issue, shuddering / possibly misfiring at higher speeds when under load, probably indicative of the dreaded spark plug change (120k miles on the engine). New coils come in the mail today. Plugs will be here next week. Scared of this change!!

johnny_tucson

I've been getting a similar sound in the mornings on the way to work...that's interesting. I have 108,xxx and I bought the truck at 55,xxx...I don't know if the plugs are original or not. But I'm scared too. Good luck.

johnny_tucson

Also, did you use your parking brake a lot? I use mine only when I'm jacking the truck up to work on it.

Martian

Similar sound to what, the one in my first post or the new one?

I used to use my parking brake a lot out of habit and I noticed it never worked really all that well. That said, I've only had the truck for the last 15,000mi. I definitely should have inspected it after I bought it. No way did the levers rust and seize up just recently.

johnny_tucson

The sound I'm hearing is similar to the sound you described in your first post. I though it sounded to me more like a hole in my exhaust the air is whistling through.

Martian

It did sound like kind of a whistling, but it only did it on takeoff and it was rotational. It went away once I got to around 10mph.

Martian

Johnny, any updates?