Subject	Differential Backlash, Clunk-> Replace or Shim?
Posted by	flashstar on April 12, 2015 at 12:04 AM
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Message	While my all-consuming head project is cooking, I thought I'd tackle some other Z gremlins. Since swapping to a manual transmission, I've been hearing an annoying clunk. The clunking is only really bad when letting the clutch off (engaging gear) or when accelerating quickly. At first I suspected worn rear differential bushings, however these seem OK. Going to replace them anyway... Motor mounts, transmission mount, and drive shaft are all new. I'm also using subframe spacers. I then checked for differential gear lash and noticed a decent amount on the driver side. Please see this video for the clunk I'm hearing and the backlash in the shaft: Differential Backlash Noise? The passenger side has a bit less backlash. Anyway this clunk seem similar to the one I'm hearing while driving. Do you think it's worth "shimming" or should I just look for a newer differential? Could this be the source of the mystery clunk anyway? The drain plug is seized (my fault as a newbie in 2009) and the diff has 168,000 miles. I could heat up the cover and probably remove the drain plug but I wonder if it's even worth messing with this differential? Let me know what you think. Thanks
Follow Ups	Differential Backlash, Clunk-> Replace or Shim? - flashstar 00:04:19 04/12/15 Does your drain-plug have a head on it? Or is it a recessed - Zuberman 00:58:46 04/12/15 Recessed Square Drive. Long breaker bar stripped out the - flashstar 01:11:10 04/12/15 Can you post a close-up pic of the drain-plug? - Zuberman 02:10:52 04/12/15 Here's a picture! - flashstar 21:26:25 04/12/15 Try bolt out extractor - Ron(Houston) 22:16:26 04/12/15 WHEW! That's pretty bad. Here's what I had in mind.... - Zuberman 13:00:01 04/13/15 Thanks! I'll try this on the old differential when I finish - flashstar 13:30:22 04/13/15 It's not my original idea. Others used electrical tape, so I - Zuberman 13:47:11 04/13/15 I would use 1/8 thick flat steel cut to make a jamb fit >> - ZUL8TR 13:31:07 04/13/15 It turns out that some backlash was coming from my axles - flashstar 21:30:52 04/12/15 check the outer axel joint it is usually worse, post results (n/m) - ZUL8TR 13:13:27 04/13/15 Axial play sounds worse on outers. Inners have more radial - flashstar 13:28:44 04/13/15 Try this. Lock the tranny on gear rise both rears off the >> - ZUL8TR 13:48:17 04/13/15 Differential is now off car. I'll hold the half shaft - flashstar 14:21:39 04/13/15 A good comparison would be to check with a 1/2 shaft that >> - ZUL8TR 04:07:13 04/14/15 The O'Reilly's is a reman, although it's a MasterPro... - flashstar 12:15:17 04/14/15 The O'Reilly shafts have just as much play in them - flashstar 12:54:28 04/15/15 that eliminates one item from the search, keep us posted. (n/m) - ZUL8TR 04:18:49 04/16/15 Re: It turns out that some backlash was coming from my axles - slcZ32 12:46:47 04/14/15
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