Play In Differential

[rally205]

Hi all,

 

I am new to the Forum and this is my first post so any help is much appreciated. I have a 2002 2.8 v6 with a manual gearbox. I have been reading on here about the intermediate driveshaft problems on the Galaxy and have many of the symptoms. I have just been under the car to check for play in the splines and noticed that with the car in gear and one wheel jacked up if I rotate the wheel I have a lot of backlash in the diff. I also held the output stub and the nearside inner cv joint and rotated them opposite to each other. There is considerable play which makes it very hard to see if there is play in the splines on the intermediate shaft. I have noticed that there is sometimes a low rumbling noise from the diff area when the car has had a good run.

My question really is how much free play should there be in the diff or is mine on its last legs?

 

Thanks

Marcus

[rally205]

Anyone got any ideas they would be much appreciated before I throw all my hard earned cash at it :unsure:

[f0ster]

if there is play in a diff it is usually the thrust washers behind the sun gears/planet gears, the crown wheel & pinion do not take any harm other wise it would be screaming at you with gear noise, this low rumbling noise, how do you know it is from the diff, it could be a front wheel bearing, when a bearing is starting to go you can feel vibration from the strut if you hold the spring and spin the wheel as fast as possible

[rally205]

Thanks for the reply. I have checked the wheel bearings and they are fine. The thing that concerns me is that when I jack one wheel up with the car in gear I can rotate that wheel quite a bit before before any resistance is felt. As I say there is a lot of backlash in the diff. I understand what you are saying about the crownwheel and pinion and the play is not there but in the sun/planet gears. Maybe as you say the thrust washers have worn and the gears are not meshing properly creating the backlash I am talking about. What I can't find any info on is how much play is normal???

[f0ster]

does it feel ok when driving if you ease off the throttle and gently back on, as for the play you need to compare with another

[chrispb123456]

Don't forget if you jack one wheel up and then rock the wheel with it in gear your taking up the slack through the whole of the transmission right through to the clutch, the clutch plate has cushion springs which allow movement to smooth the gear changes