D2 v8 rear drivetrain backlash/ bang!!!

[rmalpas]

Just bought a D2 to 2003 V8 manual from someone who towe3d a three tonne tri axle boat, you will see where this is going.... When ethyer starting off in first or chaning between gears if you dont do so smoothly you can get a big bank far more sever than normal backlash ( I have 9 other LR's and so I hope I have an idea of normal LR backlash). The sound appears to come from the rear... the diff does eem to have an unusual amount of backlash, the diff centre was replaced at some point as there is heaps of sealer around the pinnion carrier and the rest of the diff...they even put it under the bolt heads???? also when you turn the rear driveshaft round one way to the other when yopu get to the end of play there is an unuaual knock that reverberates thru the final drive sounds l;ike theres no oil in the diff but there is. I drained the oil in the rear diff no bits of metal was rather gluggy but also seemed pretty fresh.. Oil is leaking thru the pinion seal and seems to be fgwetting thrown upwards which seemed surprising... should I simply pull the pinion carrier and check the diff internals , renew final drive if necesssary pinion seal, spigot bush seal mud shield.. how can I rule out the rear LT230 transfer case drive as I hear thay can cause a problem... Dougnut appears solid and fine.

All help appreciated this is just one task I need to carry out a few others to get everyone tipt top, rotors pads, all fluids block flush the other biggy is is a check of the front crank seal, oil pump etc as I dont know if this has been looked at or changed and it does have a front leak and not just in the oil pan..

As I will also be doing the valley seals and rocker cover gaskets is there any need to take off the heads , it doesnt use ANY water and runs fine. While I am doing everything else thought I should ask..

[bee utey]

It will be the cross pin in the diff centre that has nipped up in a spider gear and started to spin, chewing out the case. You'll need another diff centre, shouldn't be too hard to find. IMHO the later D1s with 24 spline axles use the same diff centre.

[rmalpas]

Thanks I thought as much , there are plenty of second hand diff centers around I have looked at a few youtube vids to see what too look for to find a good one and doesnt look too expensive. I bought this car knowing I had a bit of work to do on it so that doesnt phase me. Is it worth doing the pinion seal, spigot bush mud shield, etc I figure it probably is an maybe just check the spigot. Anything else I should look for please let me know.

Cheers and many thanks again

[rmalpas]

I removed the diff centre and all I can find is some play in the pinion gear therealso seeem to be noise from the carriers in as much as when you turn the pinion its not as smooth as one would expect. Having the driveshaft off I checked the play in the transfer case rear drive , just turned the brake drum and was a bit surprised it would move around about 20% before it engaged with the front driveshaft ... is this normal ... My plan on the rear diff is still to replace it and ensure the replacement has good/new pinion seal.

Would be intertested if the transfer case output shaft play is normal.

[rmalpas]

Just got a replacement diff of an 80K vehicle minimal play and runs smooth interesting to compare to the one I took out and only $320 with 12 mth warranty.
Thanks all for their help.:D