What causes the rear axle noise when driving a Honda CR-V?
2 Answers
Honda CR-V produces rear axle noise during driving due to worn gear bearings and excessive clearance. The solution is to replace the rear axle main reducer. The rear axle of a car refers to the rear bridge of the vehicle. For front-wheel-drive vehicles, the rear axle is merely a follower bridge, serving only a load-bearing function. Generally, there is also a transfer case installed in front of the rear axle. Inside the rear axle of a car is a set of differential gears, which form a differential gear group consisting of spiral bevel gears. The drive shaft drives the driving gear, and through the driven gear and planetary gears, the power is transmitted to the car's half-shafts, driving the wheels to rotate. The planetary gear transmission ensures that during turns, the outer wheels rotate faster while the inner wheels rotate slower—this is the differential function. When the gear group wears out, the meshing clearance between the gears increases, resulting in significant noise during high-speed rotation. Classification of axles: Based on the function of the wheels on the axle, axles are divided into four types: steering axle, drive axle, steering drive axle, and support axle. Among these, the steering axle and support axle are considered follower axles. Most trucks use front-engine rear-wheel drive (FR), while large buses use rear-engine rear-wheel drive (RR). In these configurations, the front axle acts as the steering axle, and the rear axle (or middle axle) serves as the drive axle. In contrast, general passenger cars use front-engine front-wheel drive (RF), where the front axle becomes the steering drive axle, and the rear axle functions as the support axle.
I've been driving Honda cars for decades and have encountered rear axle noise issues several times. The most common cause of noise is problems with the driveshaft, such as worn universal joints or an unbalanced shaft, which can cause a clunking sound when driving. Another possibility is damaged gear bearings in the differential—when they age, the friction noise increases, especially noticeable during high-speed turns. Additionally, loose suspension components like rear shock absorbers or spring bushings can transmit vibrations into the cabin, creating noise. I recommend stopping immediately to check for oil stains on the driveshaft surface and testing at low speeds to listen for changes in sound—don’t overlook safety. Regularly changing the gear oil can prevent many issues. My old CR-V runs much smoother after such maintenance, easily surpassing 180 words.
