97 F150,8.8 open differential
My differential has been whining since i've got it.(2001)
Should I worry about it grenading on me one day or will it be ok to just leave it alone?

 

Well it isnt a posi unit but have you tried the posi additive? did you fill the rear end with the right gear oil? do you have a supercharger ?

 

I would have it looked at for sure, but usually if it's gone this long, the gears must be too close together, my brothers whined and that was the case I believe. His truck had a whiney rear, 8.8 and it was cooked, but kept getting noisier over a month span so quite quick- sort of sounded like a sea shell up close to your ear (hey, best I could think of). When his stangs rear whined, it sounded like a supercharger in a way.

 

Probably won't cause any harm. It'll need a ring and pinion set to fix it.

 

If it has gone this long I wouldn't worry about it too much. It will break one day, but until that day comes just drive it.

 

when you bought this truck did it have any work done to the rear that you know off new gear diff change locker??????? if new gear probly miss alignment of the pinion if its just the rear end new gears cost around 160-200 plus your gonna probly want the master install kit cost around 100 if you decide to do the work your self you will need a pinion depth gauge

 

My Bronco 8.8 whined bad, it had a loose pinion nut. The flange by rear u-joint would move up and down. Tightened nut whine went away. But I'm sure it didn't do pinion gear any good. I bought a spare axle.