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Diff noise

Posted: 23 Mar 2014, 12:22
by m3nutter
Hello boys, I rebuilt the box on my 14 about 6 yrs ago, replacing crown wheel, pinion, pinion bearing and shaft bearings. The van has the prop on at the moment but I noticed yesterday on the motorway an "off power" diff whine slightly , very sensitive to throttle and goes away if you drive it harder..

Anyone else got that sort of noise. Mine is a very empty panel van so any noise is quite easily heard. :)

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 23 Mar 2014, 12:57
by max and caddy
I was getting a very similar sort of noise on my empty van..sounded like it was from the rear but the gearbox had new bearings as soon as I got it so I ruled out the back and put a new pinion bearing in the front...after that its been silent so maybe it's your front diff? Mine would become louder if the van was pushed hard for a few miles on a hot day etc.

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 23 Mar 2014, 13:07
by m3nutter
max and caddy wrote:I was getting a very similar sort of noise on my empty van..sounded like it was from the rear but the gearbox had new bearings as soon as I got it so I ruled out the back and put a new pinion bearing in the front...after that its been silent so maybe it's your front diff? Mine would become louder if the van was pushed hard for a few miles on a hot day etc.

Cheers mate, hadn't thought of that. I am thinking of fitting a de coupler so not sure if that will make it better or worse

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 23 Mar 2014, 18:55
by dave friday
My front diff is noisy [ quiet on over run ] I fitted a de-coupler...all quiet now!

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 24 Mar 2014, 00:05
by max and caddy
Front diff on my pickup is next for a fresh bearing...noise under load, worse when hot, and can be driven out the other side of...decoupler is not really a cure for a worn bearing in my book...bear in mind the noise is caused by imperfect meshing of the gear teeth and causes accelerated wear on rare expensive parts? Of course it won't wear with no load going in but it won't be 4wd either...quick way to check is remove the prop I guess.

I find the vans drive better on the road with full 4 wheel drive...front end feels vauge on turns with no drive to the front.

It took me a while to prove/confirm it but the syncro drivetrain is supposed to be virtually silent when its working as it should, no whines, grumbles or knocking is "normal" and even the heavy duty albins gears run near silent I have found despite the chunky teeth.

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 24 Mar 2014, 06:48
by m3nutter
max and caddy wrote:Front diff on my pickup is next for a fresh bearing...noise under load, worse when hot, and can be driven out the other side of...decoupler is not really a cure for a worn bearing in my book...bear in mind the noise is caused by imperfect meshing of the gear teeth and causes accelerated wear on rare expensive parts? Of course it won't wear with no load going in but it won't be 4wd either...quick way to check is remove the prop I guess.

I find the vans drive better on the road with full 4 wheel drive...front end feels vauge on turns with no drive to the front.

It took me a while to prove/confirm it but the syncro drivetrain is supposed to be virtually silent when its working as it should, no whines, grumbles or knocking is "normal" and even the heavy duty albins gears run near silent I have found despite the chunky teeth.

Hi mate, yes I agree with all that. I've had mine 20 plus years , prop off, on, off, on and the front is light without. I am not fitting decoupler to fix the diff noise but to remove front wheel drive anyway .. :D

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 24 Mar 2014, 10:07
by dave friday
My other reason for the de-coupler is so I can use odd size tires if I have to in the wilds [ the pinion bearing isn't loose, my daughter and wife cant hear it!]

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 24 Mar 2014, 19:44
by m3nutter
dave friday wrote:My other reason for the de-coupler is so I can use odd size tires if I have to in the wilds [ the pinion bearing isn't loose, my daughter and wife cant hear it!]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: ...so is it decoupler or new stereo ? :D

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 24 Mar 2014, 20:20
by max and caddy
Using odd size tyres is the best thing about the decoupler in my veiw...I would like one but I think I would only use it on the motorways.

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 25 Mar 2014, 09:00
by Aidan
max and caddy wrote:Using odd size tyres is the best thing about the decoupler in my veiw...I would like one but I think I would only use it on the motorways.

at 60mph on the M6 in traffic when things go breasticles up is when I'd want automatic 4wd, closest thing to ABS we've got

Re: Diff noise

Posted: 01 Apr 2014, 21:32
by max and caddy
Aidan wrote:
max and caddy wrote:Using odd size tyres is the best thing about the decoupler in my veiw...I would like one but I think I would only use it on the motorways.

at 60mph on the M6 in traffic when things go "boobs" up is when I'd want automatic 4wd, closest thing to ABS we've got


Spose i could just whip my knob out as soon as I see a que forming and the red lights coming on.... :wink: