Differential wear on 1985 107

[43722]

I have a small amount of up and down movement in the passenger drive shaft were it goes into the diff, and a slight oil leak, the car has a fair bit of vibration at 80+ miles per hour, I have checked the propshaft and replaced bits as needed. could it be a bearing in the diff or driveshaft? does anyone know if this is difficult/expensive to fix? the car has 108k miles.

Any help would be great

 

[bigt]

where the driveshaft is attached to the diff, it is driven by a flange. If the whole flange has lateral play then it points to a problem inside the diff. If the flange does not physically move but the driveshaft does, then this points to a worn inner CV joint. The CV joint can be overhauled fairly inexpensively but is just a bit fiddly getting the driveshaft out. A worn diff is a different kettle of fish, I tried to o/haul a F**d one once but gave up as there were too many special tools required to ensure that the pinion and crown wheels engage properly etc.

 

[43722]

Thanks for the advice, the drive shaft itself moves up and down slightly next to the diff, not in and out. it is very hard to tell what is moving.

 

[guydewdney]

it doesnt look that difficult according to the epc - all normal bolts. the end of the drive shaft has a spline that goes into the gear in the diff - suppoorted by a bearing held in place with a plate held with 6 bolts.

looks like:-
remove wheel
remove hub.
slide out shaft
undo 6 bolts
pull bearing (could be intreresting - puller req'd)
put new bearing in
new seal
bolt flange back on
stuff shaft back in etc etc

 

[bigt]

Best way to tell whats moving is to physically grab the drive flange and try and move it up and down - if it dont move its not the diff, then grip the prop shaft and do the same if it moves now then its the CV joint.
Good Luck.

 

[bigt]

PS

Sorry guys - I am thinking of a different diff type i.e. the bigger ones. Plse accept my apologies.

 

[43722]

My diff does't seem to have a visable drive flange the only thing I can see turning is the driveshaft all the diff is fixed?

 

[guydewdney]

it should look like this:-