[fugitive robot]

Hi

I went to get my wheels balanced due to a knocking noise at the rear of the car and was told by the guy that it was the differential losing its life.

the noise was a gentle knocking increasing and decreasing with speed (gdoing-gdoing-gdoing etc)


how long (far) does this go on before it finally bursts? Is it a replacement or lubrication issue?

Thanks, Robot
[?]

 

[Merc600sec]

What is the car? Where are you located ?.. How old is it?
more details otherwise you are just a piece of string , and your question is a dug-out canoe...

 

[fugitive robot]

OK ......

my canoe is a '92 300se with 170.000 Kilometres in Portugal[xx(]

 

[Merc600sec]

Ok lets see.. the easiest way to check a diff is to put bricks or wood under the front wheels to stop the car from moving.. jack both rear wheels off the ground and without the brakes on rotate the right wheel gently backwards and forwards.. You will feel the opposite wheel start to bite.. on a tight diff it would be less than 25% of the total rotation.. you may also hear a clunk..if the diff is shot this will not be a smooth operation..then do the same with the left wheel..

you might want to check that the drive couplings from the gearbox are not worn.. that is for the prop shaft.. they make quite a noise when they start to go...
I would not be supprised after that distance if it was one or the other.. however one will be quite cheap to fix the other ...May present a problem..

 

[fugitive robot]

Yo, thanks merc600

Which is the cheaper and less expensive solution? Propshaft coupling is cheaper right?

Also - could it be related to:-

1. not using the car for 6 months and storing in a damp (Lisbon oceanfront garage)location

2. a non-worsening over revving problem I have had on kick-down since 150tkm

this knocking is not a lubrication issue, right?

Robot

 

[Merc600sec]

Yes ..
possibly(is that right) all of the above..

 

[fugitive robot]

RE: differential problems solved

Hi

Got the problem solved. No mega bills

I took it to an independent 2 man garage in teh Algarve to see whether teh oil was low in teh diff but it wasnt so they put it up and did your wheel rotate test and there was no clunking.

we then took a listen to teh right wheel and heard that there was a clicking removed it and found that the handbrake drum pads had eroded and teh bearings were iffy

total cost 140 euros - 100 quid with labor ha ha!

taking two days to get teh spares though. I'm takin the bus...

regards, robot

 

[pcmaher]

RE: differential problems solved

That is one freaky avatar, Robot. What the hell is that thing?

 

[ychachad]

Has anyone changed the oil in the differential. When I was under the car I located the drain plug, but I could not locate the fill hole on the differential. Any input on this?

 

[Merc600sec]

Glad to be of help..

 

[fugitive robot]

RE: differential problems solved

yeah, the Avatar....

When I'm not wasting my time trying to get paid by my portuguese real estate investors - the robot is an artist.

the avatar you see is a "freaker". One of a set of 60 freaker mutants i created on the computer.

when I get my act together to do a limited edition series of lithographs: I'll let ya know Merc Dude

 

[pcmaher]

Cool! I like it.

 

[unavita]

Has anyone changed the oil in the differential. When I was under the car I located the drain plug, but I could not locate the fill hole on the differential. Any input on this?

I hope someone answered where the fill plug is. It is a little obscure but is on the driver side on the top outside. It is accessible when rear is raised by reaching about suspension components.