Grinding sound coming from rear axle (1 Viewer)

[NathRay23]

Hello good people, currently chasing a grinding sound coming from the rear axle of my 2F FJ40. ive had both drums off for inspection. All looks ok, apart from a very small amount of up and down movement on the shaft on both sides. This was present before the grinding sound though. Ive drained the diff, no swarf or metallic in the oil. Is there supposed to be this much play within the diff? I have very little knowledge of differentials so im clueless. Aware there is a small amount of backlash, it's the centre piece of metal that looks like its moving to much when I push the shaft in and out from both wheel sides.

Link to the video via YouTube.



the grinding sound is much worse when the car is on the jacks and running through the gears. hard to get a video of the grinding as I cut my exhaust a bit too short so its obnoxiously loud currently.

thanks guys

 

[charliemeyer007]

I think you have excessive play. There are some very good vids for setting up differentials. I think you could do it with Toyota manuals.

 

[Mark Jennings]

I looks like the ‘spider gears’ are showing extensive backlash. However, that’s more of a ‘clunk, clunk’ noise as the drive train takes up the slack as you engage the clutch. Have you checked the pinion….see if there’s any up/down movement at the drive shaft?
Grinding noises are usually associated with bearings…..’clunks’ are generally associated with gears.

 

[DeskJock]

2nd the bearing thought process. Which is a lot more work - sorry.

 

[NathRay23]

I feel so incredibly stupid. the sound ended up being that I had some how knocked the transfer case lever into H4 while the front hubs were not locked. Not a clue how or why it took me so long to notice. Funny thing is, I swapped out the whole rear axle with my other project FJ40 just to try and confirm it was the diff. the look on my face when the sound was still there after all that work haha.

However the diff does still need addressing so will likely overhaul the whole axle over the next few months. trying to source parts within country is a little tricky as im based in Lombok, Indonesia.

thanks for the comments and suggestions gentlemen, very much appreciated.