Thread: Play/movement in rear diff/driveline S3

Hi folks.

In fitting new tyres last week I realised that there is a bit of play in the diff and just wondered if this was normal of whether it is the sign of something simple or suggestion of something sinister.

With one wheel at the rear jacked up and the handbrake on and in gear (so, I believe, eliminating the drive shafts or universal joints as the culprit since they are locked up by the brake) the wheel can be turned a small amount in either direction with a distinct "donk" when it reaches it's stopping point. Maybe it is more like a "clunk" so if you rock the wheel back and forward or rock the car when the brake is on there is a small amount of movement. Does this suggest normal wear in the diff and can this be remedied? Maybe wear in the half shaft where it fits into the diff or something like that? I have a spare diff centre and pinion from the same (Salisbury) diff so have parts available, assuming the spare is ok which it seems to be, for those who may ask it is a 4.7:1 Salisbury behind a standard gearbox running a 186.

It didn't seem that hard to remove the centre from the old diff before it was scrapped so I imagine that it shouldn't be that difficult to swap a centre over while fitted to the vehicle (famous last words?) if swapping like for like? Or have I opened a can of worms here? I'm not really up there with the diff side of things having owned mostly cars with CVs and front drive. But I have the workshop manual so maybe a good start, just need some direction.

There will always be some free play, as mentioned above. Landrovers tend to have more than most vehicles because there are splines both ends of the half axles instead of only one end, and of course, with the handbrake off, there are at least two splines in the transfer case, plus end play on the intermediate gear as well.

The only place that play is a usually significant problem on Series Landrovers is the U-joints, which should have none.

Apparent free play can also result from loose U-bolts or spring shackles, which should be fixed.

John