does it ever end :(

[moranor@axis]

so...

on the way home i hear the distinct whine of an unhappy bearing... get home get under the car and i can smell diff/gearbox smell...

investigate more and the diff is F@king hot much hotter than the exhaust... i remember one time getting under my car after a drive and feeling the diff was warm but this was hotter than the exhaust :dropjaw:

so is there any chance the diff should get this hot normally or is it as i suspect one of the diff bearings?

 

[zaleonardz]

Open or LSD.

I would assume open. Do you see any noticable oil leaks, perhaps the oil is just old, but it should not do that.

As far as bad news goes, this is fairly good, a center portion is like R1,200 from a yard, as this is an item that hardly ever breaks, specifically in an open diff.

Bout 2 to 3 hours of labour to swap them out.

Now you can increase your ratio

I would start with checking out oil first though.

 

[Jandre]

Welcome to my world.

On a more serious note: sorry dude, hope it is not too bad.

Good luck

 

[moranor@axis]

yup it is open...
already have a 3.38 diff

the oil is maybe 3 months old and no sign of any leaks swapped the diff back in recently because the other one was leaking... will check the fluid level tomorrow...

how hardy are the bearings in the diff? im thinking of changing them on the other diff i have so i dont have to swap the diff any time soon again...

if i have to take the diff out again it will be the 3rd time in 6 months...

 

[MikeR]

:banghead: damm, just get them replaced now, is there any shavings in the oil.

 

[moranor@axis]

ill check the oil tomorrow the last diff swap i did not do myself... so im hoping they did not do something stupid like put too little oil in...

has anyone changed the bearings what tools will i need? i assume a slide hammer or bearing puller? also are they common bearings or some strange kind what will they cost?

 

[MikeR]

never worked on the BM's but I can only imagine they are pressed in and wont be easy to get out, good luck.
Was it a new diff or recon. Im nervous with recons - because some trainee worked on in the back and washed out the bearings with water and thought they looked ok and slapped some grease on them and put the box back together.

Bearing should be rather cheap for them so while u have it out :dunno:

 

[moranor@axis]

i know a good diff guy but thought i may as well try myself...

but maybe im jumping to concussions here ill investigate some more tomorrow...

 

[Raybimmer]

Would have expected bearing noise from overheating long ago if no oil in diff . dirt can swim around and cause havoc over time , it can also get between ball and race and stop ball totating , causing ball to slide on race - friction = heat !! good luck .

 

[moranor@axis]

i was thinking about it and last time i was under the back of my car and felt the heat from the diff i still had my stock exhaust so the diff might be the same temp with the exhaust running cooler now :dunno:

im not convinced its the diff but i may as well check the oil anyway...

 

[zaleonardz]

Well,

If you have just had work done on the diff, are you convinced that they have the right spec oil in there....

 

[moranor@axis]

they used:
liqui moly
Fully Synthetic Gear Oil
SAE 75W-90

 

[moranor@axis]

well there's your problem

spoke to my mech and the noise i have is very common when the rear diff bush collapses like this... im sure this was the result of the vibration caused by my flywheel this bush was replaced 5 months ago

 

[Phoenix]

Atleast it's not major bro!

 

[moranor@axis]

im going to try get a meyle bush this time... not going poly yet until i re-enforce the subframe mounting points and replace the rest of the bushes with poly

 

[Phoenix]

Good idea. i heard poly can be harsh on other components unless they're all poly.

 

[DonovanPorter]

not cool

 

[moranor@axis]

im more worried about the subframe ripping the floor because im planing to replace the other bushes with poly anyway... also ive seen a few cases where the loop around the rear diff bush snaps under very hard driving so ill re-enforce it before i put poly in there

 

[moranor@axis]

just am update... :cursin:

finished replacing the bushes the noise is still there looks like ill be swapping in the other 3.38 diff i have not fun when you just did that job...

i put the car on stands and let it roll in 4th went under the car to listen where the noise came from and its definitely coming from the diff...

when i have it off ill open it up to see if i can see anything wrong with it, but im guessing its bearings from the sound... good thing i have another diff to put in

 

[MikeR]

just am update... :cursin:
finished replacing the bushes the noise is still there looks like ill be swapping in the other 3.38 diff i have not fun when you just did that job...
i put the car on stands and let it roll in 4th went under the car to listen where the noise came from and its definitely coming from the diff...
when i have it off ill open it up to see if i can see anything wrong with it, but im guessing its bearings from the sound... good thing i have another diff to put in

:banghead: just headaches man...My wifes polo also sick the DMF is on it way out at only 40 thou its an 07 1.9tdi shes never seen traffic it its life.