Differential noise

[BlueAdder]

I would assume that it's normal but I figured that I would ask anyway.

Under acceleration, I can hear a whining noise from the rear of the car. I thought that it most likely is the diff since I get a fairly similar sound on my Lotus, which is fitted with an aftermarket Qaife LSD.

Is my assumption correct?

[texasram]

What year is yours,more than a few 16's have had their diffs replaced

[Martin]

Probably worth taking it in to the techs at Normandin. When I was talking to Paul, he mentioned that they've had to replace a few differentials recently.

[ACRucrazy]

I hear 90% friction modifier filled diffs will make a lot of noise..

[BlueAdder]

It's a 2016 ACR.

I'll text Paul today. I had the car in for the first oil change yesterday but I doubt that the viper tech drove the car besides taking it to the servicing bay.

[swexlin]

Many of us Gen 5ers on this forum have had their diffs replaced - from early 13s like mine through current. My friends 16 ACR just had his done last week, and mine was done last June. Have your tech take a listen, they may replace it.

Some very slight whine at certain speeds (I still have some, even on the new one over 70s) might be normal, but anything louder is probably not. Get it checked.

Do a search here, lots of threads about it.

[Special Ed]

Stock 16 ACR shouldn't be making any noise. If it is as you say, I strongly suspect that you have a problem that will only get worse.

[BlueAdder]

Many of us Gen 5ers on this forum have had their diffs replaced - from early 13s like mine through current. My friends 16 ACR just had his done last week, and mine was done last June. Have your tech take a listen, they may replace it.

Some very slight whine at certain speeds (I still have some, even on the new one over 70s) might be normal, but anything louder is probably not. Get it checked.

Do a search here, lots of threads about it.


Stock 16 ACR shouldn't be making any noise. If it is as you say, I strongly suspect that you have a problem that will only get worse.

Thanks. I'll call the dealership today.

[donk_316]

2016 TA on my 3rd diff including the factory one.
2 warranty replacements for shavings in the oil and excessive noise. 3rd diff is good so far!

[texasram]

3 diffs on one car?? how many miles have you logged

[BlueAdder]

2016 TA on my 3rd diff including the factory one.
2 warranty replacements for shavings in the oil and excessive noise. 3rd diff is good so far!

Damn, 3 diffs?
I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to get an aftermarket one OS Gilken or something... then again, that would nuke the warranty most likely so...

[7TH_SIGN]

2016 TA on my 3rd diff including the factory one.
2 warranty replacements for shavings in the oil and excessive noise. 3rd diff is good so far!

I'm sorry that's ridiculous. Lol

Glad they aren't giving you issues with the repair.

[One Viper Bite]

My 13 GTS started with a slight whine from the rear diff at highway speeds. It quickly became a loud howling that was present at all speed, on acceleration and on decel. Then, the howling became grinding until the rear end pretty much seized. Viper tech pull it out and the rear diff had torn itself to pieces. Metal shavings inside the fluid and more than a half inch of play on the ring and pinion.

It was replaced under warranty and the new diff is completely quiet now. Definitely don't delay on getting that checked out.

[texasram]

My 13 GTS started with a slight whine from the rear diff at highway speeds. It quickly became a loud howling that was present at all speed, on acceleration and on decel. Then, the howling became grinding until the rear end pretty much seized. Viper tech pull it out and the rear diff had torn itself to pieces. Metal shavings inside the fluid and more than a half inch of play on the rack and pinion.

It was replaced under warranty and the new diff is completely quiet now. Definitely don't delay on getting that checked out.
Do you mean ring and pinion?

[swexlin]

Yep, that's what it is on these Dana diffs - ring/pinion not seating/breaking in properly.

[One Viper Bite]

Do you mean ring and pinion?

Corrected. Sorry, was typing while half paying attention in a boring meeting I was in!

[Jack B]

Unitrax has probably set up more viper/Dana assemblies than anyone else, go to their website and look at the break-in procedures to understand why some diff's get a hum.

[BlueAdder]

I'm taking the car to the dealership on Monday. Will drive it around with the tech and once it's verified that there's problem (assuming there's one), they'll have to contact FCA because of the Enhanced Customer Service deal.
Hopefully, it's just in my head because I don't want to be without the car for a few days.

[jaxtk]

Stock 16 ACR shouldn't be making any noise. If it is as you say, I strongly suspect that you have a problem that will only get worse.

SUBJECT: Replace Rear Axle
OVERVIEW: This bulletin involves replacing the rear axle unit.
MODELS:
2016 (ZD) Dodge Viper
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: NAFTA.
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles built on or after December 09, 2015 (MDH 1209XX) and on or before March 16, 2016 (MDH 0316XX) equipped with 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio (Sales Code DMD), Limited Slip Differential & Rear Axle (Sales Code DSA) or equipped with ACR package Finned Differential Cooler (Sales Code DSK).
SYMPTOM/CONDITION: The customer or technician may hear a whining noise between 32-64 kph (20-40 mph) coming from the rear axle.

[One Viper Bite]

Unitrax has probably set up more viper/Dana assemblies than anyone else, go to their website and look at the break-in procedures to understand why some diff's get a hum.

Jack, this is the second time I've seen you refer to a break in procedure document for the Gen V rear diff, but I can find no such documentation on Unitrax's site. I even emailed them about it and got no response. I've spoken to 2 Viper Techs who are also not aware of a documented break in procedure for our rear diffs.

Do you have a copy of this document? Maybe it existed once upon a time and has been taken down, but I have had no luck finding it anywhere.

[BlueAdder]

SUBJECT: Replace Rear Axle
OVERVIEW: This bulletin involves replacing the rear axle unit.
MODELS:
2016 (ZD) Dodge Viper
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: NAFTA.
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles built on or after December 09, 2015 (MDH 1209XX) and on or before March 16, 2016 (MDH 0316XX) equipped with 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio (Sales Code DMD), Limited Slip Differential & Rear Axle (Sales Code DSA) or equipped with ACR package Finned Differential Cooler (Sales Code DSK).
SYMPTOM/CONDITION: The customer or technician may hear a whining noise between 32-64 kph (20-40 mph) coming from the rear axle.

Thanks for the info.

[Jack B]

You have to call them, I have it in my archives somewhere. I will try to find it. I had them set up three separate rear ends. i followed the procedure on two and they were flawless. I did not follow the procedure on the other and it whined.

Basically, you take a 30 minute ride at low speed, no hills, no deacel and no hard starts. You then let it sit and cool down. You then repeat the process two more times. I actually pulled my car on to the lift and checked the temperature of the housing after one of the 30 minute rides, the diff housing was cooking, extremely hot, far hotter than a car that was already broke in.



Jack, this is the second time I've seen you refer to a break in procedure document for the Gen V rear diff, but I can find no such documentation on Unitrax's site. I even emailed them about it and got no response. I've spoken to 2 Viper Techs who are also not aware of a documented break in procedure for our rear diffs.

Do you have a copy of this document? Maybe it existed once upon a time and has been taken down, but I have had no luck finding it anywhere.

[donk_316]

3 diffs on one car?? how many miles have you logged

3100 kms. My car is a jan 2016 build.

First diff was ok but a little whiny
Second diff whined and had metal shaving right away
Third one is quiet and good so far with about 300-400kms on it.
Car is put away for winter now

[Martin]

You have to call them, I have it in my archives somewhere. I will try to find it. I had them set up three separate rear ends. i followed the procedure on two and they were flawless. I did not follow the procedure on the other and it whined.

Basically, you take a 30 minute ride at low speed, no hills, no deacel and no hard starts. You then let it sit and cool down. You then repeat the process two more times. I actually pulled my car on to the lift and checked the temperature of the housing after one of the 30 minute rides, the diff housing was cooking, extremely hot, far hotter than a car that was already broke in.

I had heard of this break-in procedure - it's basically designed to carefully heat cycle everything a few times so that all the bits and pieces mate together properly. As Jack noted, these things get hot during break-in, and the heat/cool cycles will let the metals expand and contract just right. From there on out, it's a good idea to swap out the fluid and the diff should be good for a long long time.

[BlueAdder]

NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles built on or after December 09, 2015 (MDH 1209XX) and on or before March 16, 2016 (MDH 0316XX) equipped with 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio (Sales Code DMD),

My build date is 07/16, so hopefully this doesn't apply :)
It could be the break-in of the diff. Although I babied the car for the first 600 miles.
Oh well, I'm taking it to the dealership on Monday so that the tech can listen at it. I'll update the thread.

[swexlin]

My build date is 07/16, so hopefully this doesn't apply :)
It could be the break-in of the diff. Although I babied the car for the first 600 miles.
Oh well, I'm taking it to the dealership on Monday so that the tech can listen at it. I'll update the thread.

It's a warranty issue either way - doesn't matter if it falls into the build range or note. As I mentioned, several of us from all model years have had ours replaced. Although it seems getting warranty work is getting more difficult.....

[BlueAdder]

I took the car to the dealership and gave a quick ride to the tech.
He heard the noise from the diff and he's going to replace it. Since that falls under the ECS, he's got to contact FCA, get it approved and get the part.
So, no biggie.

[swexlin]

I took the car to the dealership and gave a quick ride to the tech.
He heard the noise from the diff and he's going to replace it. Since that falls under the ECS, he's got to contact FCA, get it approved and get the part.
So, no biggie.
Cool. Thanks for the update.

[stradman]

Hi everyone, I have a 2016 ACR here in the UK that was imported privately. Unfortunately it appears that although the car has 3 year warranty in the USA the warranty doesn't apply when the car is exported. So can I ask does anyone know what the part prices are for these diff problems as it seems that I will have to cover this if it starts to play up. Many thanks

[BlueAdder]

I honestly couldn't tell you. All I know is that parts for the ACR are incredibly expensive (specifically the CF parts and the brakes).
As far as other things like the diff and whatnot, I would think that it's regular MOPAR stuff so you should be able to find out about the prices.