Rear axle noise on 2021 E450

[bikeit02]

I bought a 2021 E450 30' class c motorhome, We now have 7000 miles on it. The rear axle has a ring gear noise that starts at 62 mph and stops at 68 mph. I owned a 3010ds before this one and do not remember hearing any ring gear noise on it. Are all of the newer e450 class c motorhomes making a ring gear noise. Thanks for any input on this subject. Dale.

 

[Sergiop]

I think Ford found that some units were not filled to capacity in the rear end. Don’t remember if they were Class A or C rigs. i think there was a recall on them.

My 2018 does not make any noise from the rear end.

 

[JohnandSandiOnTheRoad]

This may apply to your issue...

Our 2019 Sunseeker 2500TS also had a 'harmonic balance' rear axle area vibration/noise starting at about 61 MPH and diminishing at about 68 MPH. I researched it and discovered that when Forest River lengthened the frame it changed the drive-line pinion angle (with the new style Ford transmission). Took ours to a good RV/Truck shop and they installed the correct pinion angle shims that immediately corrected the problem. Before the shop started the repair, I contacted Sunseeker and they were excellent in assisting and reimbursing for this repair. The local Ford dealer was unable to help.

 

[bikeit02]

rear axle noise

Thanks for the input on the pinion drive angle. I will be looking for a good shop to talk to about this. I took it to ford he first said the drive shafts would need to come out and be rebalanced, I then told him again the noise was only from 62 through 68 mph when it was under load. He then told me he could hear the noise and wants to change the ring gear. I just want good input on this problem and thanks again for the input.

 

[BehindBars]

Our new 2019 E450 chassis (6 speed, V10), carrying a 2020 Sunseeker, had a drive train moan between 62 and 68 mph. I suspected rear end drive angle might be a problem, I began learning about the rear axle shimming.

Before addressing the noise directly, we had the LiquidSpring rear suspension installed. This eliminates the rear leaf springs and changes the whole mounting hardware of the rear axle. After LiquidSpring was installed, the moan sound was gone. Nothing had been done to the drive shaft, no shims were added or changed, but the rear axle was remounted, so I suspect rear end angle could have played a part in the noise we had originally experience.

 

[kenandterry]

As you can see, mine is parked for winter.

Remind me in the spring to see if I hear this moan around 62mph and higher. I’m assuming it’s only heard with V10 and 6 speed Ford E450 units?
I wasn’t aware of it so far, but then again with tinnitus, I don’t hear things as well if I’m not concentrating on it.

 

[retireearly]

Pinion angle is an issue for lifted trucks as well. Easy enough to check with a good magnetic angle finder- the angle at the yoke on the transmission and the yoke on the rear end need to be the same.

 

[BehindBars]

Pinion angle is an issue for lifted trucks as well. Easy enough to check with a good magnetic angle finder- the angle at the yoke on the transmission and the yoke on the rear end need to be the same.

On our 182” wheelbase E-450 27’ Sunseeker, the drive shaft is three sections, with two intermediate support bearings. The drive shaft angle appears to change a little after the aft support. Does your simple transmission and yoke angle match still apply to this multi section drive shaft? It seems like the angle into the rear end is going to be determined by the position of the frame mounted aft drive shaft support, not by the transmission angle.

I’m guessing the original post’s 30’ E450 is built similar to mine.

 

[retireearly]

Unsure about the longer units, mine does not have a frame stretch as it is shorter and is a standard Ford wheelbase. I did just check and my transmission and rear diff are both parallel, sitting at about 6 degrees.

 

[Cuda]

serpentine belt , ???

 

[JWallet]

I bought a 2021 E450 30' class c motorhome, We now have 7000 miles on it. The rear axle has a ring gear noise that starts at 62 mph and stops at 68 mph. I owned a 3010ds before this one and do not remember hearing any ring gear noise on it. Are all of the newer e450 class c motorhomes making a ring gear noise. Thanks for any input on this subject. Dale.

Interesting, I have the same noise around those speeds. Never could put my finger on it and chalked it up to wind harmonics on the chassis. In winter storage now but will definitely check into this as soon as out of storage!

 

[n1acguy]

I have a 20 2860DS on a 19 chassis with the lengthened frame. I don't hear any rear end noise out of mine.