Groaning Diff - Fluid Level
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 135
From: Maryland
Groaning Diff - Fluid Level
So out of the blue I'm hearing noise from the differential on my C5. Tight turns to either side and it groans the whole time. Think I can hear it more when not on the throttle. Last track day I could hear a high pitched whine (only around Carousel at Summit) and thought it was the car behind me. After looking at my in-car video I could tell it was my car.
Earlier this year I noticed the outside of the differential had some gear oil on it (not excessive) and figured it just blew some out of the vent. If I poke my finger in the fill port and bend it down, I do touch the oil. Should I top it off to just below the port? I didn't, thinking it would just blow out again.
Running the same type of Redline fluid as always (I think its the 75w90 GL-5). A couple years ago I installed new clutch packs and Belleville washers (one had broken). When I pick one back wheel off the ground, the differential still feels tight (can't spin the tire). When I had a broken washer, could EASILY spin the tire with zero resistance.
Any guesses? Just low fluid, time for a fluid change, or diff about to give up...
Thanks
Earlier this year I noticed the outside of the differential had some gear oil on it (not excessive) and figured it just blew some out of the vent. If I poke my finger in the fill port and bend it down, I do touch the oil. Should I top it off to just below the port? I didn't, thinking it would just blow out again.
Running the same type of Redline fluid as always (I think its the 75w90 GL-5). A couple years ago I installed new clutch packs and Belleville washers (one had broken). When I pick one back wheel off the ground, the differential still feels tight (can't spin the tire). When I had a broken washer, could EASILY spin the tire with zero resistance.
Any guesses? Just low fluid, time for a fluid change, or diff about to give up...
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 1,111
From: Ex DPRK, now just N of Medford, OR
I'd want to know just how low it was!
The groaning isn't worrisome. Probably just lack of LSD additive... but hopefully not caused by lack of oil in general!
The whine is worrisome.
R&P gear contact is by far the most highly loaded point on the car. Dunno if you can get a look at the gears through the fill port, but I'd be concerned about their wear.
The groaning isn't worrisome. Probably just lack of LSD additive... but hopefully not caused by lack of oil in general!
The whine is worrisome.
R&P gear contact is by far the most highly loaded point on the car. Dunno if you can get a look at the gears through the fill port, but I'd be concerned about their wear.
