Noisey Diff

[ChrisLeese]

I have just done a few long runs in my griff 500 and noticed that the diff was very 'clunky' when pulling away from stationary (in 1st and 2nd). This continued for a few miles of low speed driving and then went away.

The car is due for a 36,000 mile service, so I have assumed the diff oil is begining to break down under heat.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? If so what was the cause.

[trefor]

Could be worn mounting bushes or loose diff bolts. Both have occured on my lowly 4.0L Chimaera.

T/.

[stig]

Sounds very much like the top diff bush has gone - it's quite common. The bad news is that it's not that cheap to fix as the diff will have to come out (you may be lucky and just have loose bolts).

I had this done with a full service - cost - 750 quid.

Stig

www.locost-racing.com

Car No. 13

[pete C]

check the CV joints first!!! it could save you loads!

[dougal]

My 4l Griff did the same (different diff though), noisey at low speed going away at motorway speeds, it was the diff bushes and a fractured diff mounting plate. didn't cost too much to repair, somewhere around £150, most of the cost is labour as the diff and exhaust have to be dropped. If you don't already you could try getting an independant to do the job for a lot less money (as above). When I took my car to a (then) very well respected main dealer for a service and to sort said clunking from the diff I was told I needed a new diff at around £1000 and that nothing else was wrong. I didn't believe this was the problem as it wasn't showing any of the normal signs of wear ie noisey, whining etc. Took it to a recommended independent, got it back the next day and 20k later it's still fine. Agree with all of the above too, especially checking the bolts as that is what the chaps who did my car thought caused the mounting plate to fracture.

Edited by dougal on Wednesday 16th January 11:35