Differential rebuild

**scorn001** · 12-10-2007, 02:08 PM

Is it possible to rebuild the differential in a 1999, non-torsen. If so, any recommendations? Does Rogue do this? I've called him 3 times today with different questions (he's working on my '99 now), and I fear I'm becoming an annoyance, so thought I'd ask here instead.

Thanks,

-Tim

**Titus** · 12-10-2007, 02:10 PM

Is there something wrong with it (other than being an open diff)?

**scorn001** · 12-10-2007, 02:17 PM

Trying to chase down the rattle and excess slop in the drive train I asked about in a previous post (http://forums.dfwmiata.com/showthread.php?t=10766). Rogue looked at the tranny, and there is no excess slop in the transmission, and the propeller shaft seems solid, so it looks like the play and noise is either in the differential or stub shafts.

The slop is most pronounced when I'm creeping along at low speed in stop'n'go traffic. It'll start to buck a little sometimes bouncing with what sounds like bad u-joints, with a pronounced 'clunk'. However the propeller shaft seems fine when you twist it by hand.

-Tim

**MadMerv** · 12-10-2007, 02:27 PM

If it is the diff, it should be howling like crazy. About the only thing that fails in a diff is the pinion bearing. You should be able to feel that by rotating the driveshaft. What you previously described would be a rattle.

**scorn001** · 12-10-2007, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by MadMerv

If it is the diff, it should be howling like crazy. About the only thing that fails in a diff is the pinion bearing. You should be able to feel that by rotating the driveshaft. What you previously described would be a rattle.

I understand, and isn't howling, at least not loud enough that it is obvious to me at speed, and there is no metal that is evident in the differential oil or on the plug. There is a noise however back there that Rogue heard, but couldn't quite identify, and he did feel the slop I referred to, and commented that the transmission seems fine, so he felt like it was either a stubshaft, or something happening in the diff.

-Tim

**johnwag** · 12-10-2007, 05:29 PM

Based upon the bucking you are experiencing, you need to replace your motor mounts and possibly your diff mounts.

Most factory motor mounts are gone after 60K miles. I replaced the motor mounts in my '96 miata at 100K. One was broken in half and the other was nearly in half.

**SirHustlerEsq** · 12-10-2007, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by johnwag

Based upon the bucking you are experiencing, you need to replace your motor mounts and possibly your diff mounts.

Most factory motor mounts are gone after 60K miles. I replaced the motor mounts in my '96 miata at 100K. One was broken in half and the other was nearly in half.

ride in my car and I can show you all about drivetrain slop.

**channelmaniac** · 12-11-2007, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by scorn001

... It'll start to buck a little sometimes bouncing with what sounds like bad u-joints, with a pronounced 'clunk'.

Sounds like you may have chunked a gear in the differential. Bean and AJ are the resident experts on

up a differential.

**Treibenschnell** · 12-11-2007, 09:10 AM

Yes... most definitely not fun.

**Black_devil_miata** · 12-12-2007, 03:33 PM

+1 on the motor and diff mounts idea. If you had a chunk missing out of the ring or pinion gears you'd really now about it, because usually one chunk leads to about 5 or 6 others. A really easy solution to your problem is to turn the radio up :]

**Majik** · 12-12-2007, 04:38 PM

Isnt a some bucking normal? How bad is it really? If I cruise through a parking lot or in stop and go traffic the car can buck a little bit if I am not careful with the gas.

**Black_devil_miata** · 12-12-2007, 05:41 PM

It definitely would be if your on and off the gas a lot. If there is no whining or "clunking" sounds I'd just say its motor and diff mounts like other people have stated. Even if it was your diff going out, I'd just get another one from mazda heaven and not even bothering rebuilding it, especially since its an open diff.

**scorn001** · 12-12-2007, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Majik

Isnt a some bucking normal? How bad is it really? If I cruise through a parking lot or in stop and go traffic the car can buck a little bit if I am not careful with the gas.

Yes, I wouldn't be giving it a second thought if it weren't for clunking sound I'm getting when it bucks. How loud is too loud for a miata? I don't know. I know that if I heard this sound coming from my truck, I'd be looking at the u-joints.

I'm at Collins & Glenville in Richardson all day if someone cares to have a listen.

Rogue does believe that something is going on with the rear-end, but its not severe enough for it to be obvious what precisely is wrong. I'm going to keep driving it expecting that at some point it will get worse, and be easier to diagnose at that point.

The invitation is open however to anyone who wants to have a listen. I get 'er back from Rogue tomorrow morning.

-Tim

**scorn001** · 12-12-2007, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Black_devil_miata

It definitely would be if your on and off the gas a lot. If there is no whining or "clunking" sounds I'd just say its motor and diff mounts like other people have stated. Even if it was your diff going out, I'd just get another one from mazda heaven and not even bothering rebuilding it, especially since its an open diff.

does mazda heaven have a website?

Thanks,

-Tim

**POS Racing** · 12-12-2007, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by scorn001

does mazda heaven have a website?

Thanks,

-Tim

Not that I have ever seen listed here, they are basically a junkyard.

You should be shopping for a torsen not another open dif.

**sammm** · 12-12-2007, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by scorn001

does mazda heaven have a website?

I think I've seen parts from them via this website, but I'm not positive.

http://www.urgntx.com/

edit -
If you click "Members", they are listed there.

http://www.urgntx.com/map.html

**scorn001** · 12-13-2007, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Not that I have ever seen listed here, they are basically a junkyard.

You should be shopping for a torsen not another open dif.

I don't like the ~$500 premium over the standard open dif. The open seems to be working fine for me, if I were tracking it, I'd probably have a different opinion. I actually went a long time thinking I had the VLSD because I thought I had the Sport package, and both wheels always seem to spin at the same time. Then I found out I only have the Touring package, which was a relief when I looked at the prices of differentials.

-Tim

**POS Racing** · 12-13-2007, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by scorn001

I don't like the ~$500 premium over the standard open dif. The open seems to be working fine for me, if I were tracking it, I'd probably have a different opinion. I actually went a long time thinking I had the VLSD because I thought I had the Sport package, and both wheels always seem to spin at the same time. Then I found out I only have the Touring package, which was a relief when I looked at the prices of differentials.

-Tim

Yea but Torsens are real quiet.

**D3MoN1** · 07-13-2014, 04:39 AM

hey ive had my miata for half a year now its a 2000 open diff not sure,been having a clicking noise from my driver side axle whenever i take off from a stop its annoying and i wanna fix it but wanna make sure i find out what it is exactly

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Yea but Torsens are real quiet.

Thread: Differential rebuild

Thread Tools

Differential rebuild

need help

Similar Threads

transmission rebuild?

Pressure buildup in differential

FS: 1996 4.10 Torsen differential and housing

Broken Differential Pieces and Pics...

FMII Rebuild - anyone wanna help?

Posting Permissions