Noise from Diff area

[AKBO]

Hi friends,

I found this noise from diff area. And I found that when I jack up the car and spin one wheel by hand the other wheel doesn't spin. But, both spins when I shift the gear. Can anyone say what is wrong with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izr5JDCKI40

[shogun]

Moved to E36 forum

[dominator293]

Potentially nothing wrong with it. Had a listen to the video, can't hear much tbh. The reason one wheel spins and not the other is because it's an open diff, not an LSD. (dont do it) but I bet if you grabbed one of the wheels while it's spinning, it would stop and the other would keep spinning. The slight noise you hear could just be that metal cap on the front of the diff rubbing as it spins.

Really hard to say what/if any of the issues are from that description and video unfortunately, so if you're really concerned take it to a diff specialist to have a listen.

[AKBO]

Hi! @dominator293 thanks for the reply. It is 1995 318ti with Sport suspension over 300k miles and most of the parts are originals. When I run the VIN it shows that it has a LSD. I think that the LSD is gone as described in the following video. As you stated the noise may be from the metal cap. I thought it is from bearings. I am going to remove the diff cover and check inside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ra...l=Garageaholic

[JDStrickland]

Hi friends,

I found this noise from diff area. And I found that when I jack up the car and spin one wheel by hand the other wheel doesn't spin. But, both spins when I shift the gear. Can anyone say what is wrong with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izr5JDCKI40

You have an Open Diff, this means that in N, you can turn a tire and the opposite tire does not turn because the driveshaft turns instead. If you put the gear selector into P, or 1st, then the opposite side tire will turn opposite the direction of the tire that you are turning. This is normal and customary, so you need to give more information as it regards to the noise.

[dominator293]

Also the LSD diffs have an 'S' written on the little tag on the bag of the diff, or a big S painted on top of the diff. If you don't see one, likely not an LSD.

[AKBO]

You have an Open Diff, this means that in N, you can turn a tire and the opposite tire does not turn because the driveshaft turns instead. If you put the gear selector into P, or 1st, then the opposite side tire will turn opposite the direction of the tire that you are turning. This is normal and customary, so you need to give more information as it regards to the noise.

@JDStrickland Thanks for the information. What kind of information would you need regarding the noise?

- - - Updated - - -

Also the LSD diffs have an 'S' written on the little tag on the bag of the diff, or a big S painted on top of the diff. If you don't see one, likely not an LSD.

Thanks dominator293 I'll check it.

[JDStrickland]

I see that you say that you have a 318 that came with an LSD, this sounds odd. I would not expect any 318 to have a factory LSD, but I suppose it's possible. Having said that, the LSD can be the cause of any noise you have.

Do you have any audio of the noise you are chasing?

Wheel bearings are far more likely than the diff to make noise. The diff is pretty much filled with oil, it has enough oil in it to bathe everything with oil as it spins. The wheel bearings run dry, they only have the lubrication that they came with from the manufacturer, so they will have a tendency to run dry from time to time, this is especially true if you take your car swimming (drive through deep water that is axle deep). Tires can make noises too.

[AKBO]

I see that you say that you have a 318 that came with an LSD, this sounds odd. I would not expect any 318 to have a factory LSD, but I suppose it's possible. Having said that, the LSD can be the cause of any noise you have.

Do you have any audio of the noise you are chasing?

Wheel bearings are far more likely than the diff to make noise. The diff is pretty much filled with oil, it has enough oil in it to bathe everything with oil as it spins. The wheel bearings run dry, they only have the lubrication that they came with from the manufacturer, so they will have a tendency to run dry from time to time, this is especially true if you take your car swimming (drive through deep water that is axle deep). Tires can make noises too.

@JDStrickland Thanks for the reply. I don't have an audio file except the YouTube video with above link. When I listen to the noise moving here and there, I here it loudly in the centre area.

Here is where I found the details about the Diff. May be I am wrong.

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E3...ar_axle_drive/

Here is the YouTube link again if needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izr5JDCKI40