Thread: sloppy rear diff

Originally Posted by barnfindseries3ffr

I just took a '87 isuzu engined wagon for a test drive, loved it but it felt a bit sloppy in the rear diff. It had a slight clunk on take off and if the gear changes were not done normally (ie, vague out and miss time the revs).
Pretty much everything else was as to be expected on it (much more comfy than my ex mill leaf spinger).
is there anything I should be specifically looking for when I direct the mechanic to check it out?
Thanks for your advice,
Lee

More than likely not the diff try rear axle`s and flanges or T/C centre diff

Originally Posted by barnfindseries3ffr

I just took a '87 isuzu engined wagon for a test drive, loved it but it felt a bit sloppy in the rear diff. It had a slight clunk on take off and if the gear changes were not done normally (ie, vague out and miss time the revs).
Pretty much everything else was as to be expected on it (much more comfy than my ex mill leaf spinger).
is there anything I should be specifically looking for when I direct the mechanic to check it out?
Thanks for your advice,
Lee

If it's an '87 model it should have a 5 speed gearbox and that is most likely where the clunk is coming from. There probably is slop in the rear as well but they are notorious for gearbox mainshaft spline wear inside the transfer case. To fix this usually requires replacement of the mainshaft and modified input gear in the transfer. The front diff will probably have some wear as well.

Yeah it has a 5 speed, apparently the box was rebuilt a year ago, I haven't seen the receipt but he says that he has it as proof.

Apart from the gearbox, the most likely place for slop is worn splines in the drive flanges on the hubs, which will eventually fail, or the thrust washers in the centre diff, which is unlikely to fail.

However, worth noting that even slight drag by the handbrake will exacerbate the effects of any slop that exists. Drag can be due to adjustment, binding expander, mud in the brake, or, more commonly, oil from a leaking seal.

John