Morris Minor Owners Club

My diff' dings. Well, it makes a metal on metal 'note' like a small hammer hitting a anvil whenever I accelerate from standing or put on the power (i.e: clutch up, nothing racy) after a change up of gear while traveling along.

Anyone else have this problem, what is it causing this. I have a replacement diff ready to go in if it is that extream of a problem, but changing it just to see the diffrence is not something I can do due to time/help/equipment. Any ideas on what is causing the noise?

Any help would be greatly appreiciated.

Cheers,

Rob

Sounds like good old fashioned wear and tear (crown wheeel pinion area possibly) is it the only noise you have from that area, no bearing whine etc ?
The rear axles are quite strong and some of them moan forever, complete failure is fairly rare, and most just get replaced when the driver gets fed up with the noise/drone etc.

Its good to hear that moaning isnt nessecarily a sign of imminent failure ... I was thinking that my 2-door was going to need a new diff soon!

Remember Alain that soon for some Minor parts can be measured in years.
Rob if you are still not sure why dont you pop along to the next Herts Branch meeting i am sure someone will be able to diagnose it for you.

It could be one of the propshaft joints , check them first , you wil have to undo the bolts to change the diff anyway.

Thanks I'll have a look at that ... it (the propshaft) clunks a little sometimes when you pull away, so a worn joint is sounding VERY likley.

Neat. I never thought of the prop-shaft before. hmmm.

Unfortunatly, Kevin, I had to say a little good-bye from the Herts branch, thats why you probably don't notice me around there anymore, due to me starting at University in Cambridge. I really miss the meets, even though I only managed to turn up to the few that I could before I went off to Cambs.

Anyway, back to the problem; my diff doesn't whine much at all, it was a great diff', but it just suddenly started making these metalic "ching" noises whenever slack in the drivechain was taken up.
I originally thought it might have been the gearbox, but the noise deffinatly comes from the far rear of the car.

I've got to put new rear springs on when I get home at Christmas, so I'll prob have a look at the prop' shaft then and mabey change the diff for the new one if I have to.

Cheers all!

Rob

I'd say that was the propshaft. Mine used to do that - and I'd get a clank-clank-clank-clank sound when driving slowly, or rolling back off my drive.

The front joint was, aparrently ruined on the old shaft. I bit the bullet and had a good second-hand one reconditioned by a transmission specialist, who makes shafts for lorries &c. They straghtened this "good s/h" shaft out... put new joints on for me, and I got it fitted.

Result - no clunks!

Diff still grumbles, though...

making these metallic "ching" noises whenever slack in the drivechain was taken up.

oh! - and i've just been ignoring those noises for years
one more thing to worry about!! lol

That "ching" sounds like the prop as mentioned before.

A good test is to get underneath and hit the prop with a small spanner and listen to the sound, if it's the same then it is more than likely the prop.

A better way (and while you are under there) is to pull at the prop (by the joints) and see if there is any movement. There should be none. Obviously don't do that if the car is on a jack or wobbling about on a dodgy axle stand. If you are slim enough you can do it while the car is on the ground.

If you find No play in the prop shaft universal joints then
the trouble is probably due to too much play between the
pinion and the crown wheel BUT another possible cause
could be that the planet wheels have too much free play
I.E. the thrust washers have worn away too much. This
can result in the half shaft being able to move up and
hit the inner of the diff bearing, which produces a metallic
clang( the half shaft does NOT normally touch the
bearing,just passes through it). If there IS too much play
in the Planet Wheels it is possible to fit new thrust washers
but it is a fiddley job, probably easier to fit another diff
unit. It is difficult to find a quiet one these days!

Good luck with your studies Rob I forgot you were off on a little learning curve for a few years.

I'd get a clank-clank-clank-clank sound when driving slowly, or rolling back

Good point Gareth as you say if its a joint really starting to go it will show up in reverse or just rolling back as well as going forward.

Cheers for the well wishing, Kevin.
The Diff doesn't clank-clank as the car rolls back nor foward. It's odd as it is not continuous noise. It's just a ching every time a new gear is selected and torque applied including going into reverse.
I'll hastle my prop when i get back for Christmas, might see you all at the Herts branch in January!

Rob if you do decide to come in January email me first as we may (hopefully not) be having to change our venue due to the new landlord

Cheers mate!

Might be a bit late catching this thread, but I'll go on anyway.
I get the 'ding', exactly as you say. Was under the car the other day and found that when i turned the prop shaft quickly, it 'dinged' when it got to the end of its free play.
I just thought it might be the free play between the cogs at either end (gear box and diff) or the prop shaft bearings?
I have the noise for a while, and its never been a particular problem although I have just replaced the gearbox and it seems to be doing it a little more
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Cheers for the input! Yeah, i thought it might be the gears in the diff itself, but I might conduct an experiment and change the prop' over for an old one I've got laying around which came off of a car that wasn't used much. If the dinging stops, I'll know it's the prop' and leave the un-dinging one on there while I un-ding the nice clean one I took off.

lol, nice one. better think about 'un-dinging' mine at some stage
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