E30 Zone

A few weeks ago I was with Kedge and went for a spin in his car, he mentioned his whining diff and said alot of them do them, but I didnt notice it in my car...

My car didnt seem to make that noise until I replaqces the fan belt and power steering... Now I have a whining noise? Nothing unbareable... Just that sounds Kedge mentioned... Would that be my diff? Or something to do with the belts replace? Also, if it is the diff, what can I do to sort it? I read somewhere about changing the oil to the diff? That right? If so, how? Where etc?


Thanks in advanced!

Does it still happen when sat still with the motor running? if so its the belts or somthing to do with it.

Diff will only whine when driving

Changing the oil in it's really easy. There're two plugs on the back plate. A large allen key or a proper plug tool will be required (I'd go with the tool as the allen key could damage the plug)

Undo the top one, then undo the bottom one. Have a catch pan ready for the oil. (bowl from the kitchen is always good but liable to result in thrown cutlery or the forced purchase of a dishwasher)

To fill it back up, replace the bottom plug and pour the new oil in throught the top hole (squeeze is probably more accurate as there's not a lot of space tbf) until the level is just below the hole (test by sticking your finger in or keep squirting till it p*sses out all over you like my mate did). Replace the top plug, double check all is nice and tight and away you go. All in all should probably take about half an hour depending on what the condition of the plugs are.

I'm not sure what oil it is but it should be on the zone somewhere.

@ Billy - Its permaninate so I'm guessing its something to do with the belts... I will try loosening them a tad bit to see if it eases off...

@ Banjo - Thanks for that mate... I will be doing this regardless as I want to keep my car in tip top condition... Now the embarrassing bit... Where do I find the diff? lol... Still new to this part...

lol the diff is at the back of the car. underneath, inline with the back wheels.

I thought so... lol. Will check it out later on with any luck, got no cash to get fluid though... I hate moving house...

What fluid is needed? I'd like to give mine an oil cahnge

me too - I also have a whining sound. Thought it might be transmission whine (see other post) but diff could also be a likely candidate

I just changed oil on mine, i used 80-90w hope it's the right one

Bit more info here

http://www.e30eta.com/ecdiff.htm

Easy way to fill diffs and gearboxes is to use an oil syringe,available from decent toolshops for a few quid.Just suck the oil up,roll under the car and squirt it in....

So after an oil change the whining noise didn't go away, and now i think i have a new sound, a more hissing sound. It's there when throttle off and changes when throttle on :S
Wrong oil maybe? I used 80-90w

I get a whining noise from my diff from about 60mph to 70pmh, loudest at 65.

I've looked into it and it sounds like my output bearings are wearing out.

Not sure this is any help to you...

Kit

My problem would be that i don't know what a output bearing is, can't find any in a part catalog.

I got that term from the link below

http://www.e30eta.com/ecdiff.htm

Under the 'How To Tell if Your Differential is Worn' it mentions it as a common problem. All the symptoms sound like mine.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Kit

Going back to the OP and to try and prevent this from being confused any further - if it is all the time and not just when the car is moving it is not the diff - could it be the alternator, especially if you have renewed the belts? Power steering would only make a noise full lock - other than that water pump - cant think of anything else.

in my experience, pinion bearings are usually the first to go before the output bearings. hardly surprising as they turn at 3-4 times the speed and thus cover 3-4 times as many revolutions in their lives