Symptoms Of A Broken Diff?

[Manuel Kasko]

Hey guys,

Finding that when changing gears its not as smooth as any other skyline I have driven.

As I put the car into the gear and clutch out the car does 2-3 small jerks as I start to accelerate.

First thing I did when this happened was adjusted my TPS (correct voltage) thinking it had something to do with the throttle. This has not fixed the issue.

So secondly I have also changed the oil in the diff to something around the 90 mark.

I did notice there was a fair build up of metal shavings and my diff oil had a very gold shine to it.

Opinions?

Does the jerking when changing gears sound like a diff issue or something else

[R31Nismoid]

If the diff was broken, you'd hear it.

If it's worn - then well, that's almost a given. It's 15 years old

Jerking could be a bit of play/blacklash. The mounts could also be quite work. Joints and overall drive train

[Manuel Kasko]

So the symptoms seem like those of a worn diff?

From what I could find on here and online it only gave symptoms of a broken diff such as loud noises etc.

Mine makes a clunk when I clutch in while it's in reverse. Still trying to work out if the clunk is from the gearbox or diff.

[R31Nismoid]

If it was stuffed, in all my experiences... The noise will be constant and you'll know it's busted, you'll feel it.

[Manuel Kasko]

Okay thanks mate.

Car feels shocking to drive it I just can't seem to get it to smoothly change gears.

Might get someone to take it from a drive around the block and tell me what they think.

[Manuel Kasko]

Does what I am describing sound like a worn diff or something else in my drivetrain?

[Mitcho_7]

question, how smooth are your gear changes normally and have you got your issues that you were having with your clutch sorted?

[Manuel Kasko]

question, how smooth are your gear changes normally and have you got your issues that you were having with your clutch sorted?

Clutch should be coming out this weekend for a new spigot bush and thrust bearing.

That should get rid of the annoying sqeaking noise from the thrust bearing

The issue started after the tune.

But it wouldnt be anything to do with the tune I wouldnt think.

Maybe just the extra power has done something or the change in clutch

[xALmoN]

gbox mounts?

diff mounts?

rear subframe bushes?

[Manuel Kasko]

gbox mounts?

diff mounts?

rear subframe bushes?

These are the things I do not know anything about.

Maybe I am a bit out of my league to do this as a garage job

[Mitcho_7]

get your clutch stuff sorted then see if it still does it

[D.I.Y. Mik]

Mine does it a bit too, i think its play in the diff, it needs shimming, Im gonna ask Diff Dr.

Does yours sort of slap back and forth when not clutching properly?

How about humming at high speed? Mine does.

gbox mounts?

diff mounts?

rear subframe bushes?

Hes asking if anything is loose, like where the diff bolts on to the car, easier to fix than a diff centre.

You can get a good suspension place to check most of that.

I just had mine all done so its not that.

If your diff is like mine ill keep you posted about what Diff Dr says.

[Manuel Kasko]

Mine is exactly like yours MIK

Horrible to drive you have to clutch out very very slow or give it a lot of revs.

Keep me posted for sure.

When are you getting them to look at it?

[D.I.Y. Mik]

Rang him but he was busy, he said something like "cant shim it, put racing centre in"

I wonder what a "racing centre" is (lsd?) and how much it costs. ill find out later.

I found chunks in the black sludge on my drain plug, so its not going to last too much longer.

Most aftermarket centres are about $800-$1600, i dunno if its worth getting a used one or rebuilding mine. If it can be rebuilt.

Hopefully Rob(Diff Dr) has a solution thats cheap and awesomely strong(clever guy), hes done it before.(my r32 driveshaft, the kingswood diff)

Does anyone know if they can be rebuilt?

[34GeeTeeTee]

Hey guys,

Shimming tightens the LSD up and is nothing to do with the backlash, the diffs would need to be adjusted to take up the slack, if you dont know what you are doing just take the centre to a diff guru

If i was in Canberra i would help but 4hrs is a bit far for a quick look!

He is referring to a mechanical diff centre i would say, a lot of fun but they do clunk and carry on in carparks as they are basically locked anyway....

You should be able to check the diff bushes, subframe, tailshaft, gearbox and engine mounts etc man...... Its hard to picture what is happening from your description though......

[D.I.Y. Mik]

Yeah all my mounts and things are good, solid mounts, engine damper etc just been done, driveshaft is a new one piece with big unis.

When im under the car (on stands) with the handbrake on and in neutral, the axles are locked from the handbrake, but the driveshaft still has play, but stiff play, if you know what i mean?

I know you can shim the lsd clutches, but In the kingswood he shimmed the gears back in position (no lsd) ill ask him what the go is with this.

Not keen on a crappy centre, though ill see how many $$$.

Thanks Mat.

Edited July 20, 2012 by D.I.Y. Mik

[Manuel Kasko]

It's a little hard to explain the feeling in words which sucks. But year it just seems slack much like i don't know a ripple effect when you change gears.

You clutch out and it feels like it rocks into place.

Back lash I guess.

Hope the diff dr can work something out for a good price and go from there. Mine steps out to the left or right when it loses traction so does that mean I guess it doesn't need shimming

[GTSBoy]

You can't shim the standard diff anyway.

You CAN shim it, but what you are doing is not shimming anything that is supposed to be shimmed. Just jamming the internals together hard and wearing surfaces that were not meant to be worn.

Whoever came up with the idea is a retard.

[D.I.Y. Mik]

Depends which gears i guess.

The old holden v8 diffs must have big gears and room to do it, cos it worked well for ages,

its not suprising cos they are simple and big.

I know squat about LSDs, and he didnt tell me jack yet so.... monday, Dan i guess ill find out what he can do.

What are you talking about GTSBoy, shimming the gears or the clutches?

I like to know which ideas are crap so i dont get burned.

Anyway its definately rooted, sounds worse after an oil change.

Edited July 20, 2012 by D.I.Y. Mik

[Manuel Kasko]

Is yours noticeable in reverse?

I reverse into my parking spot and when I clutch in the diff clunks.

Still as geeetee and Mitch have said I also have an issue with my clutch that I have to get fixed first and go from there.