Here is a video I did up to explain the noise I am getting from my differential. It is quite irritating to hear when changing gears after releasing the clutch! As far as I can tell, the spider gears are most likely very worn, causing excessive play. The car drives just find and can push it self anywhere without struggle. The thunking sound just gets on my nerves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWAVcJVHZ28
Anyone know of anywhere that supplies replacement 6.75" gears, or does anyone have a set that is nice and tight still? They would have to be from a 2.73:1 ratio rear end, which is defined by the take ID C2-WGF-AJ.
From what I can see the gears look fine. Why not just reset the backlash on what you have? There may be an issue with finding a new crush sleeve if you take the pinion out but I would adjust the ring gear and check the pattern first. :)
I reset the backlash while I was in there. I have a crush sleeve that Phil sent me a few weeks ago and I was originally going to put it in there, but the wear pattern looks fine.
I'm just really trying to figure out what the clunking noise is!
Quote from: dave1987 on January 25, 2009, 07:46:29 PM
I'm just really trying to figure out what the clunking noise is!
U-Joints?
71HANTO
U-Joints were my first suspect and I replaced both front and rear just before August with no change.
I'm wondering if it could be my pinion preload from when I changed the front oil seal the first time and re-used the original spacer. I don't really understand how that would cause so much slack though!
I just purchased this manual off eBay. I will scan and see if I can get a charter member to upload the entire manual to the site. Hopefully there is something there that will help!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380036754359
It seems that you can move the tire quite a distance before I see the ring gear move.
I wonder if the external axle shaft splines or the internal carrier splines are worn?
Another thing you can do. Use a 2 foot piece of heater hose. Hold the hose to your ear.
Use the hose to try to pin point where the clunking occurs.
140W makes things a lot quieter :lol:
Yep, with more thought I am also thinking spider gears or the spider gears pinion shaft or thrust washers.
Did you look inside the carrier yet?
Spider gears for shaft splines were my initial thought.
The noise is definitely coming from the carrier though. I just got the original ford shop manual for it's dis assembly and adjustment procedures and will try another shot at this again in a month or so. I would like to have another 2.73 ratio carrier to replace it with if it turns out this one is trashed after
I just pulled the carrier off a 3.18 rear end (mine is a 2.73). Should the spider gears be the same for both the 2.73 and the 3.18 (same year)? After all, isn't it the ring and pinion gears that determine the gear ratio???
Also, what are the chances that the axle shaft splines are so worn that they are the cause of this excessive axle play?
Friday I should be going back out to the yard to grab the axle shafts, should the splines on my original ones show excessive wear. Otherwise I will just be swapping out carriers; putting my ring gear on this one and changing the carrier bearings.
The spider gears as well as the entire carrier are the same on all 6.75's.
Awesome! I hope it is just the carrier that is at fault. If not, I have the axle shafts stashed in another car at the yard, since they should be junking the 77 bobcat I pulled them off of, soon.
Well, I literally took an entire day and more to get the work on the rear finished. Started working on it at 7 AM yesterday morning, got finsihed at 3 AM (including clean up). I took a few 1 - 2 hour breaks though, just so I didn't get mad at it.
I originally just pulled the carrier out of the 6.75 rear on the 77 Bobcat at the junk yard, just planning to swap that out. Then I tested the new carrier with the old axle shafts by stacking them on the ground, holding the bottom one still and twisting the top one, to see how much play there was in the carrier and it still knocked a litte.
I went back to the yard and got the axle shafts that went with the carrier I pulled and tested it which had no play. So I through it all back together, replaced the vent valve on the axle tube, and will be getting new axle shaft seals from Original 74 (THANK YOU!) soon as well.
The driver's side hub was enlarged or warped or something, and the brake drum got stuck. I had to use a torch to heat it up and then tap it off with a hammer. Not only that, but the ROAD WHEEL got stuck on the hub, and I had to hammer THAT off of the hub too! So I buffed the center hub and filed it down enough so the drum and the road wheel wouldn't stick, and I could easily check or change my wheels in the future.
I am THRILLED with the new axle! The car drives SOO much smoother now, with no pulsating when coasting to a stop, no more THUD when engaging the clutch or releasing it between gears. Coasting between shifts is smoother, the ride is quieter, and it brings a smile to my face knowing it is FINALLY fixed. I don't have that worry in the back of my mind that it the thud might be teeth on the gears slamming together, and may one day demolish my gears while I'm driving.
I have fought this differential issue for awhile now and I'm just overwhelmed with joy that I finally have it fixed. I can now drive in peace without worry, and plan road trips!