Symptoms are vibrations between 70 mph and 110 mph. Also I noticed today when driving slowly around the houses that when I go on and off the throttle there is a clonk from the axle.
I have got the car on stands and have removed the driveshaft and when I turn the pinion yoke on the diff one way then the other there seems quite a lot of backlash and a loud clonk.
Having removed the diff cover the backlash is between the pinion and ring gears. The teeth dont have any bits missing.
Please can someone advise me what to do next?

Thanks

Simon

 

check the backlash with an indicator, maybe pull the axles and the carrier and clean and inspect it a bit more. if you're really up to it you may want to remove the pinion. long as you don't replace anything it's go right back together the way it came apart.

 

Thanks Ede.
Can worn diffs cause a vehicle to vibrate at speed or do they just make noises?

Thanks

Simon

 

if your problem is inside the rear end i'd suspect a bearing/race or axle problem, not so much in the gears or carrier.

 

Thanks again. The only other possible fault I think there is, is where the driveshaft pushes into the tranny. I have checked the UJ's and there both OK but how much movement of the tranny output shaft is acceptable? I know there is a bushing in there that may need changeing. Could you describe how this is done please?
Its going to be a nightmare getting these parts in the UK.

Thanks

simon

 

Let me know how your axles go back in. I'm curious to see if anyone else has the same problem.

 

The axle problem was solved by a fluid change. The fluid that was in was also rather low and the vibration was due to the front wheel bearings being over tightened. I always thought you tightened the bearing to remove all the play but I guess this doesnt allow for some thermal expansion. I found that the nut should only be hand tight which leaves some play rather than tightening till all play had gone.

Thanks

Simon