Ok so my car has had a whine and I lifted it to try changing the rear did fluid to see if it would improve the problem. I found that my rear diff has been leaking and I never noticed because my driveway is grass down the middle.
So on the drain plug I found fine metal particles on it but no chunks. Now the whine is less but it still whines a bit. My question is it done or can I rebuild it my self? Also should I try heavier fluid when I refill it after I drop the diff to re seal the leak? Also can the metal particles be from the LSD discs

Thanks

 

It is normal for the magnet to be covered with fine metal particles - at least mine always is when I change fluid. How low did the fluid get?

 

still had like maybe 3/4's or so fluid left in there

 

my rear diff used to have a leak like 3 drops a day and i permatexed it all around ghetto i know BUT its been good no leaks for 60k miles... you can just replace the gasket for it but ive just been too lazy -_-

 

I think the fluid would have to get lower than that to do damage for lack of lubrication.

 

yeah i figured as much but that still leaves me with the annoying whine at 55-60mph i wonder if it is just a need of the backlash needing adjustment.

 

Get it fixed before it explodes and EVERYTHING needs to be replaced.

Mine got loud and blew up a couple days later. If I would of stopped driving it when it got loud, it would of cost me less than 1/2 of what it did after it exploded.

 

you sure it's not the transfer case thats whining? that mph is common for tcase whine also.

To reiterate another poster, its almost always cheaper to fix it before it breaks.

 

Only whines under accel under very light load at only that speed and changing the fluid in the rear diff changed the mph range and volume of the whine. So this leads me to believe its the rear. Also doesn't the t case whine happen at any speed and load condition?

 

Whine is a pinion/ring mesh problem. My WRX came from the factory with the rear diff mesh set incorrectly and it whines at 55-60 mph. The question is - is it bad enough to be worth messing with. I can't know what you are hearing without riding in the car. So, I'd say, if the car gets used hard the answer is probably yes. If not all that loud and the car is only a grocery getter, then it might well last the life of the car.

You can check rear diff play without taking anything apart. Put the car in neutral and crawl under. Turn the driveshift in one direction as far as it will go. Make a mark on the flange next to the diff housing and onto the housing. Turn the driveshaft the opposite direction. Make another mark. The difference should be less than 0.2 inches according to the service manual.

BTW, fix the leak.

 

it is an all around car, DD and occasional autox with future track use so i think it is best to get it fixed. will check the driveshaft movement if it stops raining out here.

 

I'm local and have a diff w/ 36K on it for sale

 

thanks but it costs about as much as fixing mine does (i would if i couldn't have any down time but i have another car i can use)