Front diff bearing?

[Tercel__jon]

Hey fellas, so quick question...what would make a cv axle wallow around when Its in the diff? What i mean is, I can move the cv joint at the trans, up, down, left, right. Seams there is some play. Would this be diff bearings? Ive got a real slow oil leak there, but its darker than the other one I have. I assume something is eating something else.

[Petros]

I doubt it is the front diff bearings, if so you would hear it I would think, \ and it likely would not take long to destroy itself. more likely is the spline shaft is a poor fit on the cv axles. if they are remans sometimes they regrind the spine shaft to clean it up, and make the fit somewhat loose. If very loose than that would explain the leaking, it will not stay centered and it allows gear oil to seep past the seal.

There are others that have more experiance than me with front diffs, but if the bearings were that sloppy you would also be losing teeth off the ring and and pinion gear set.

[xirdneh]

those axles can wiggle around quite a bit at the tranny
the leak is probably the axle seal
replace it
to narrow it down wipe the tranny dry, drive it and check where the oil is fresh

[Tercel__jon]

Well, the diff is also kinda loose...it has some play in it. Nothing you can hear, I would know that. (cressida is laid up with a sloppy diff, its LOUD). I also have a dull whiring/wining noise when its cold outside. After the trans heats up it goes away. Its only there when Im rolling, engine on or off, clutch in or out. Only when Im rolling.

My biggest concern is the oil thats leaking from the cv axle, is pasty...kinda like when you're resurfacing an aluminum head with a piece of glass, and the sandpaper clogs up. Imagine that with oil. Thats why Im thinking the steel from the cv was eating the case of the trans and mixing with the oil. Idk...its a possibility.

Like I said, Ive got another small leak (4wd shifter) and it leaks clean gear oil. I know the oil in the trans itself is clean too from when I check it. Changed it 8 or 9 months ago.

This cv axle has been with this car for several years without any issues. In the previous transmission (several years ago) I had no problem with it.

[xirdneh]

the tranny and diff share the same oil
is the oil level up?
maybe you ought to drain it (hot oil) and see what it looks like
pull the axle and check the axle end and replace seal
are you sure the noise is not front wheel bearing

i recently had a noisy front end that sounded similar to wheel bearing but after replacing the front wheel bearings (they were bad ) the noise was still there. so now i'm thinking bad differential but decided to swap the left front axle (that made no difference) then i replaced the right axle and that fixed it.
i compared the right axle to a good axle, flexing and wiggling both but did not feel or hear any difference so i do not know what was wrong with it and i never expected an axle to make the sounds that it made

[larry mcgrath]

jon give me a call Larry

[Tercel__jon]

I know they share the same oil, which is why this is peculiar to me.

Oil level is kept topped up. Check it every week or two. I dont drive very far. Maybe 50 miles a week. All drives are over 7 miles highway though.

Definately planning to pull the axle and change the gear oil this friday when I get paid.

Wheel bearings were just done. I know that sound, this aint that.

Thats interesting about that axle...maybe that could be my problem as well? But I was listening intently today to possibly hear that whiring whining noise but didnt hear it at all. Maybe it has to do with everything being really cold. It wasnt that cold out today and I let her warm up quite a bit before leaving. I really doubt the trans gets up to temp in 7 miles of 55mph when I take off after running for just long enough to get a steady idle. Letting it idle and warm up completely seams to help. Did that tonight...no noise on the way home.

Itd be a pleasure larry, but alas, I dont have your number. Shoot it to me in a PM and lemme know when a good time to call you would be.