front diff mounts

[axeman]

i have been getting a slight knocking sound when the the van is under load. first i thought it was the cv joints, one of the front outer was almost dry, just a little grase in it around the bearings, toped it up and reinstalled the the drive shaft, still got the knocking noise when i put my foot down, been looking and poking around under the van and the mounts at the rear of the diff look intact, but there whole thing (the rubber mounts) are loose in the mount. look at the photo there is a small gap at the bottom of the rubber bush. and i can move the whole mount (and diff) about 3-5mm. the nuts sceam well and truly tight.

is this normal?

ho the photo is 90 degrees out.



thanks neil

[syncrodoug]

I think that apparent gap is normal, from what I recall there is a little ridge on the nylon doughnut.
Have you checked the two mounting bolts over the nose of the diff - mine had worked loose or I hadn't tightened them enough last time I had the diff out!
Doug

[axeman]

thanks doug i will have a look at the front mounts in the morning when i get a break.

neil

[Aidan]

undo the stack and remove the bottom set with the bolt and check the state of the metal face of the rubber bush, check that the bolts are not bonded to the inner bushes and check that the nylon segments are the right way up and that the interlocks either side of the metal face are alligned and locked when you retighten the stack

[axeman]

will do that too, after work.