Rear Diff Making Loud Click?

[alien]

Anyone know what causes the rear diff to make a super loud "CLICK" noise? Happens after going forwards, if i put it in reverse and take off semi-fast, or after doing that, going forwards faster also causes the noise.

Its coming more from the right than the left, well appears that way. Only symptoms i can offer are the gasket on the diff leaks a little, perhaps its low on oil - still dripping though so cant be that low.

When i got a mate (thanks kyle) to drive it back n forward the drive shaft seemed to not move, then suddenly jolt into action at the same time the noise went.

the click sounds like metal on metal, a cracking kinda sound. doesnt happen every time either =/

ideas?

[Rhett]

If you have the retainers cut off the springs sometimes when they relocate they can crack. If not idunno

[largesuzy]

unis in tailshaft very badly flogged out, other wise no idea

[lay80n]

Grab the shaft, and with the transfer in neutral see how far you can turn the driveshaft forward and back. There shouldnt be much movement, it it rotates excesivly then look at the unis, if there is no play in them, then there is heaps of backlash in the centre, and it will need to be pulled and inspected. Is the diff making any other noises too, like whine or groan when driving or under load?

Layto....

[bazooked]

dry and shaged rear uni guarantee it.

[mugginsmoo]

i doubt it. sounds to me like you've broken the cotter pin that holds the planitary pin in place, allowing the planitary pin to contact the pinion.

i've done this many times. the best cure is to remove the diff ASAP and just weld the planitary pin in place, before it does too much more damage

[alien]

thanks for the suggestions guys =)

oh and its not making any noise whatsoever during normal driving - after it started happening, i drove about another 20km offroad, was doing donuts in mud n all sorts of shinnanigans before driving 70km home at 80-90km/hr... not a single odd noise.

not very good on the tools, how much am i looking at paying for a mech to do the repair work??? How badly damaged can i expect it to be? (its not making the noise every time...yet)

[alien]

how much play should the 2 shafts inside the diff have? one of them barely moves 3mm in n out, the other moves a good 10mm, combined they allow for a TON of movement inside the diff... im thinking this may be the cause of all the noise.

gonna fill the spider gears with bolts and weld it all shut as a precautionary measure. (hehe)... also replacing the pinion bearing as its on the verge of collapse.

[nicbeer]

How'd ya tell the pinion is on the way out?

Sounds like your going to have a weld rear sooner than u wanted.

cheers

[alien]

the bearings were ultra stiff and pitted out...

yeah - would rather not have to fork out money when im trying to scrape the cash to get hi-steer, but ah well.. at least its been improved now =P

[alien]

ok all done... got the new gasket fitted, diff welded and half rebuilt by the mech. for $200.

Problem appears to have disappeared - now to learn how to drive with this whole screeching wheels thing =P