Diff whine!

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:50 am

Hey guys. my diff has become noisy and quite lumpy on take off. How long do i have before it viciously locks my wheels and i go plowing into the nearest hedge/lamp post/group of hippy extremists?

Cheers

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:14 am

Is it an open diff, or an LSD? Open diffs can rumble on for years with lots of wear - try refilling it with a thicker grade oil to quieten it down a bit.

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:23 am

Open diff mate. We changed the oil but it hasn't helped

cheers tho mate. put my mind slightly at ease (y)

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:24 am

Is it a squealing mosquito whine or a throaty groaning rumble? And how have you determined it's the diff? You can get all sorts of rear end noises on old cars, and something two mechanics told me was a knackered diff turned out to be a sticky handbrake!

If it IS a failing diff, they can last for years without a change but you'll be driving with clenched buttocks for a long long time, waiting for it to pack up.

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:36 am

Got the car on a 4 poster. jacked the back end up. Block of wood under 1 wheel, 4th gear clutch out build the revs dump the clutch and it's whining it's head off and did the same on the other side just to make sure it wasn't wheel bearing. and you can see the drive shaft on the diff end rotating as though it's egg shaped. it sounds like the back end of a bus type of whine!

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:22 am

In that case, probably best to change it for a better one.

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:36 am

Yeah i've got a local one at £40 for the diff and driveshafts. might be cheeky and see if he'll throw the prop shaft in too

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:29 pm

Potentially not long at all, had a bad one fail on the m4 in the space of 5 miles.
If your 100% on it being bad then its hand brake turn russian roulette time.

Post Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:44 pm

Lmfao thats a good point. should be takin one off a 318i touring m40 so i'll hopefully have it done by thursday