Diff identified, in my mind, not good news

[Harvy500]

Can't say I'm happy but after crawling under the car earlier today is a GKN diff and it's leaking fluid.
Starting to sound nasty. That's the car laid up until I can find a solution.
Already it seems GKN diffs are not easy to find someone to rebuild it.
Oh how I wish it was a BTR.

[rigga]

Local gearbox center overhauled a GKN diff I had that was noisy, some parts are hard to obtain, crown wheel and pinion as I recall, but a basic strip and overhaul is not hard.

[Belle427]

Some ptfe to the threads is usually all that's needed if it is leaking from the drain.
Do an oil change first and see how it goes, you may be worrying over nothing.

[Harvy500]

My car is booked in for the MBE ecu etc upgrade at powers performance. I spoke to Dom about the diff.
We spoke about it and he asked exactly what noise I'm hearing. He told me it's 99% the diff mounts.
As for the leak, it looks like the input oil seal.
When it goes to powers, they're going to drop it, inspect it, if the guts are all ok (he said they should be as in his opinion they rarely fail unless very hard abuse with no oil in them) he's going to fit new input and output oil seals and at my request, fit new CV joints to each end of each driveshaft.
With the effort and time I'm putting into this car I want it done properly and don't want all this work done now and then have more to do later.
In for a penny, in for a pound. Future proof it.
When I get the car back I just want to enjoy it.

[Sardonicus]

If you dropping the diff get bearings replaced is my advice long term pinions and crownwheels rarely wear/fail on these but I can say with certainty if that diff has not been opened up in recent years the front and rear pinion bearings will have some wear present if not worse its this that generally causes the excess back-lash and whine/noise on any differential IME and especially the GKN unit

Edited by Sardonicus on Monday 24th July 11:54

[Harvy500]

When my car goes to power performance for the ECU upgrade and other goodies (August the 28th) I've spoken to Dom about the diff issue and they're going to remove it, inspect it inside and out. If it's worn or tired internally it will be rebuilt. The least is new input and output oil seals and new mounting bushes. If it needs more,it'll get it.
Pointless ignoring it. I want this car in tip top condition to be a reliable fun car that has every opportunity to be just that.
If it costs money, so be it.
When I bought the car I had a budget to not only buy the car but also to finish restoration that the previous owner didn't do. I got the car for a VERY sensible price so my budget covers everything to make it as good as it can be without spending more than it's worth.

[Belle427]

You seem to be going about it the right way, the management upgrade is a must in my opinion.
Costs can quickly spiral on these cars as most owners find out but its all good fun and worth doing if its a keeper.
There isn't much out there as fun and characterful as these cars tbh.

[Teamred]

Grantura Engineering at Poulton-Le-Fylde are the acknowledged experts for TVR GKN diffs. They rebuilt mine last year. Not expensive. Most difficult job is getting the damned thing out and back in again! To do the output oil seals it's got to come out anyway, so you might as well have it stripped and rebuild with new bearings and then not have to worry about it again. Replace the rubber mounting bushes with poly-bushes too.

Edited by Teamred on Tuesday 25th July 12:15

[Riff Raff]

Teamred said:

Grantura Engineering at Poulton-Le-Fylde are the acknowledged experts for TVR GKN diffs. They rebuilt mine last year. Not expensive. Most difficult job is getting the damned thing out and back in again! To do the output oil seals it's got to come out anyway, so you might as well have it stripped and rebuild with new bearings and then not have to worry about it again. Replace the rubber mounting bushes with poly-bushes too.

Edited by Teamred on Tuesday 25th July 12:15

I'm pretty sure that if Powers are doing the work, it'll be done right. They've done a fair bit of work to my car, and I can't fault anything they've done. If something isn't right, or might become problematical they will let you know.