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HELP! Diff noise / LSD for normal road use?


BaileyMex

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Morning all.

OK, so I've got some noise coming from the rear and it sounds like the Near side from the diff, jacked it up and there appears to be play between the actual wheel and the turning mechanism through the diff, i.e. you turn the wheel and it takes a good 10-15 degrees of wheel turn before you see any movement on the prop.

Is that normal or combined with the noise when driving (kind of a whomp whomp whomp) noise does it sound like something in the planet gears/bearings has worn?

In the same question, if a rebuild was to be needed, is an LSD overkill for road use? I don't race or track my car or really give it death every time I take it out, I've heard LSD's can be clunky or noisy, which I couldn't be arsed with for just normal road use.

Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated before I start looking at costs 

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Tell me about it!! Had a whine since got car back on the road 4 yrs and 6000 miles ago. There in all gears til about 60mph then disappears. Can't trace it.... Had different box and diff in. Had original rebuilt diff rechecked. Wheel bearings good. Living with it now.
Did have an lsd for one tour couple of years ago but was faulty. Had it rebuilt but not going to use it. I use car like you do so don't need one....just my opinion

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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The 'play' is termed backlash and it will always be present to a greater or lesser degree in any gear set or meshed gears. Without it the gears will generate excessive heat, better machining of parts can reduce it to negligible amount but that costs and wear can go up. 10 odd degrees doesn't sound excessive to me. Worn diffs and or axle bearings tend to whine rhythmically - what you describe almost sounds like a 'flat spotted tyre' or an imbalance somewhere.

If you are into burn outs and doughnuts then a LSD is perfect or if you demand 100% traction in variable conditions or road surfaces they are generally a good idea. For average road driving they can be noticeable with some 'extra' noise (plate types usually) whereas a ATB type are quieter with slightly less traction effect. These are my opinions and like oil choices, others will disagree LOL!

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31 minutes ago, BaileyMex said:

 

In the same question, if a rebuild was to be needed, is an LSD overkill for road use? I don't race or track my car or really give it death every time I take it out, I've heard LSD's can be clunky or noisy, which I couldn't be arsed with for just normal road use.

 

Is an LSD overkill for road use 🙄 You've changed...............hand in your OSF jacket at the door on exit please........

PS: prob a wheel bearing!

Edited by BIG G
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21 minutes ago, Monza said:

Had a whine since got car back on the road 4 yrs and 6000 miles ago. There in all gears til about 60mph then disappears. Can't trace it.... Had different box and diff in. Had original rebuilt diff rechecked. Wheel bearings good. Living with it now.
 

Leave the wife at home and see if the whining has gone.

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Thanks for the quick feedback guys

katana, thanks RE the 'backlash' reply, that helps and makes me feel a little better.

We had the car on axle stands and started the engine and 'carfully' moved through the gears whilst on stands, the noise was still present and the 'Whomp whomp whomp' noise gets faster with speed.

So cant be a tyre flat spot, but good call as thats what we thought, but in the air rules that out.

Gordy, Wheel bearing a good shout 👍 and yes, I've slowed down a bit in my old age, 

 

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32 minutes ago, Johnny Boy said:

Most usual candidate would be a wheel bearing. 

I find the ATB is great in a road car, you would not know you had one ................ until you go sideways.

Going to try the bearings first.

I looked at the Quaife ATB on the Burton's site

Is the 3J one any good?

https://www.burtonpower.com/original-english-axle-salisbury-style-lsd-22-spline-ford-escort-lsd3j1.html

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Just my four penuth.

I had exactlt the same issue for years and after trying the usual I gave-up and just accepted it.

Like you I jacked the car up and ran through gears and like you it was still there.

I had new tyres fitted when I got new wheels and it completely dissapeared.

Strange but true.

My theory is it probably wasnt the tyres but the new ones must have somhow changed the 'harmonics'. Either way it hasnt come back.

If nothing else its a good excuse for a new set of boots.!
 

 

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3 hours ago, YellowTaxi said:

Just my four penuth.

I had exactlt the same issue for years and after trying the usual I gave-up and just accepted it.

Like you I jacked the car up and ran through gears and like you it was still there.

I had new tyres fitted when I got new wheels and it completely dissapeared.

Strange but true.

My theory is it probably wasnt the tyres but the new ones must have somhow changed the 'harmonics'. Either way it hasnt come back.

If nothing else its a good excuse for a new set of boots.!
 

 

I’ve come across that tyre noise many times.

it is one or more tyres, that the tread becomes “stepped”, or uneven, you can feel it if you rotate the tyre one way with your fingers on the tread, then back the other way. It will feel smooth one way and lumpy the other way.

very very often confused with a wheel bearing noise . 🙄

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8 hours ago, BaileyMex said:

That is strange, but glad new boots fixed it.

Think I'll throw on some new rear wheel bearings first and see if that makes any difference, and see how it unfolds from there.

Always a good start but that noise you describe usually meant diff bearings and adjustment when we all had Escorts back in the day as every day drivers.

Not sure what power your Mexico has but with standard 2lt cars you can break diffs with just a slightly aggressive take off. ATB is fit and forget and you wont even know its there most of the time (until you start going flat out through roundabouts) and it offers the piece of mind of not letting go as readily as a standard diff.

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9 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Always a good start but that noise you describe usually meant diff bearings and adjustment when we all had Escorts back in the day as every day drivers.

Not sure what power your Mexico has but with standard 2lt cars you can break diffs with just a slightly aggressive take off. ATB is fit and forget and you wont even know its there most of the time (until you start going flat out through roundabouts) and it offers the piece of mind of not letting go as readily as a standard diff.

Will have another look tomorrow morning and get it back up in the air.

It's a 1700 Xflow on 40's with the usual period mods, power wise I'm not sure, not had it on the rollers for years, but a guestimate only about 120 ish

 

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19 hours ago, BaileyMex said:

Will have another look tomorrow morning and get it back up in the air.

It's a 1700 Xflow on 40's with the usual period mods, power wise I'm not sure, not had it on the rollers for years, but a guestimate only about 120 ish

 

I wouldn't hesitate going for an ATB with that sort of spec and gain advantage.

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18 hours ago, BaileyMex said:

is that on a standard diff or LSD?

LSD oil,

Most LSD oils are meant for racing/rallying purposes and have friction modifiers in them therefore making the lsd plates grip/chatter more but in this application the oil will be changed frequently "after two meetings etc" as the oil gets contaminated quickly negating the risk to the bearings and CWP of wear and failiure. I have used many different LSD oils over the years and foud that the Castrol B373 suits me best but I build my diffs with less preload than the rally/race guys so less chatter "25ftlbs" and 45 degree ramp angles on and off so lasts longer. 

I change my oil by using a syringe and a tube through the filler hole and pull as much out as i can then refill, i do this after a running the car on stands so any metal is suspended in the oil and not led on the bottom of the casing after settling out. 

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I have a 3J plated LSD in my road going mk2 and it doesnt chatter much at all now ive put a few kms on it, When it first was installed sounded like a bag of bolts but now nothing.

I dont think youll go wrong with either type.

Im no mechanic but i did have a noise like you describe and new wheel bearings fixed that but 'noises' are so hard to identify over the net, hopefully is a simple fix.

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Cheers for the feedback all, gonna throw a set of new SKM rear bearings on the back hopefully Wednesday, and then test, if not cured, then diff out.

No car tinkering this weekend as anytime now the first beers will get cracked open and same again tomorrow 😁

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