86 4kq, 201k, paid $1000 for it in December. Runs good, body fair. My rear diff has started to clack around corners. It had been doing it for a while, but I drove 600 miles this weekend and it's noticably worse now. Lube is not the problem. My question is, how close to death is it? Bearing and CV joints sound like they're going to explode long before they're close to failure. I'm not going to put any money in the car, I only bought it for the winter. For sure I am the last owner.

If worst came to worst, I guess I could cut out the rear halfshafts and propshaft, lock the center diff, and use it as FWD...

Anyone care to guess?

Thanks,
Robert

If it's clacking I'm thinking its the cv's. I guess you checked the fluid level? Does the locker work?

Yeah, clacking. It's a cv-like sound, but it's hard for me to believe that the rear cv's would do that given that there isn't the same sort of angulation that you see in the front. I think the diff is having a hard time differentiating. I go around the corner and dud-dud-dud-dud. Sounds meaty :(.

Topped off the fluid halfway thru the trip but it only took a little bit.

2 hours into the return trip the diff was too hot to touch, but I don't know if that's normal or not.

R

Locker works.

Robert

When the CV joint goes it make a shipload of noise. The rear nearing will make a racket as well. The rear will likely make a howling noise and yes it will probably be too hot to touch.

The rear diff will be too hot touch after about 20-30 miles. I changed out my rear diff, because it was too hot to touch, and the newer one was the same way. Now I have 2 rear diffs. I have about 168+k on the car and I had 132k on the diff when I changed it out.

There is enough angulation on the rear CV's, that if the boot is/was ripped or dirt has entered the CV the CV will chew itself up. Remember that the grease in the CV becomes thinner while you drive and any dirt will move down into the tracks chewing up the CV's.

In '97 I had a '93 VW Fox that, at 30k, blew out the inner CV. It was the original CV and the boot was never torn. It had to have been a manufacturer defect (or assembly defect) since the axles had never been removed from the car (I know because the lock-tight was still on the splines).

Thanks for the definitive answer on the temp!

R

...I'm surprised everyone is sure it's not the diff. I can feel this heavy clunk through the whole car when it does it, it doesn't sound like CV's to me. (I once drove an Integra 600 miles with no outer boots to speak of. Talk about clacking!)

R

This is a disposable winter car that I'll be able to part out for at least 2/3rds what I paid for it. I was just curious to know if anyone has had the diff fail and what the symptoms immediately prior were.

Appreciate the input though!

Thanks,
Robert