Differential Clunk
 

I have been getting a weird clunking noise from the rear of my car that sounds like metal on metal contact and I have not been able to track it down. I checked all the usual suspects like my shocks, loose bolts, camber arms and sway-bar end links. One thing I did notice is that the shaft coming out of my diff has a bit of play in it. If I move it around a lot it sounds very similar to the noise that I am getting but not not as loud.

Question is, how much play is too much? I assume there should be a little bit of play but not a lot. Could this be the source of my noise?

Here is a vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv0UDjBZZ-s

Hi - I'm not a tech - but I changed to a Cusco LSD last year - in my experience a bit of play when you twist the axel, and a bit of play in and out of the diff is normal - but in your video it looks like the axel wiggles back & forth - that does not look right.

That's what I was afraid of. I just changed the fluid in my diff and it smelled really bad which I assume is a bad sign. Also the magnetic drain plug was filled with metal.

Ruh-roh.

Not sure if this helps, but I was experiencing a clunk from the rear when traveling at low speeds (like parking garages) and I'd get on or off the gas. In my searches I saw a lot of recommendations to re-lube the spline of the axle where they connect to the hub. My problem went away on its own before I tried it.

Thanks for the tip. I saw that too but for me the noise seems to be bigger than at the hub. The play in the stub shaft seems like it might be my source. I plan to separate the axle from the shaft and see which components have excessive play. Hopefully I am lucky and all she needs is some lube in one of the holes. gigty:icon17: