gear/tranny/diff noise?

[OZMDD]

I suddenly developed a "whine" in my NC, similar to what you hear when driving in reverse. I'm getting it on accel and decel, but is louder on decel, I think. It sounded like it came from the trans, but I realized it was consistent through the gears (torque-related more than speed), so I'm suspecting the diff now. Car has a Mazdaspeed clutch-type diff with recent (6mo) Joe Gibbs synthetic, 70K miles on diff.

How can I check further, and what should I be looking for/suspecting? Do I need to stop driving it immediately? Thoughts and experience welcome.

[sammm]

Drain the diff. fluid and check for metal slivers/shards?

[shortshift]

Is there any chance you could insert one of those boroscopes into the differential filler to view the gear-teeth surfaces?

[OZMDD]

Yeah, I think you can. I don't know if you can get a good view of the teeth, but the opening is accesible.

so, it sounds like the issue would more likely be in the ring/pinion rather than the lsd?

[OZMDD]

After further investigation, I now think the problem IS in the gearbox or bell housing. I get noise when sitting still, so that kinda rules out the diff. Working on finding a way to check the fluids ( my alley is still under construction, so no fucking garage). I have a funny feeling it's the throw out bearing again, even though the noise is slightly different than the last one. If so, I clearly have a major clutch pedal adjustment issue, or the fork is getting hung up. This does have to happen the week I'm moving. Sigh...

[ken o]

Sounds like throw out bearing.

Rent a bay - http://www.jackjunkies.com/index.html

[OZMDD]

Yeah, I am considering the rent a bay if nothing else pops up. In the middle of packing the house, so time sucks. I'm trying to make a list of all the tools I used on the last tranny drop. Prob a 3 hour job with a lift and a competent helper or two.

[OZMDD]

OK, thinking the rent-a-bay is a pretty good idea for this. Anyone motivated to come up there saturday afternoon and watch me try not to break things?

[OZMDD]

[Nails]

where and what time? i might be able to make this

[OZMDD]

I'll update this tonight. Looking at Jack Junkies in Plano, 3 pm Saturday, but not confirmed yet.

[goofygrin]

you can use my garage if you don't want to pay. I'll be in and out with baseball games, but you're open to it. And you'll have a Porsche as a parts runner (as long as the battery isn't flat).

[Nails]

is this a go at 3 today?