Does this sound like a diff or uni problem?

[craigvk]

The other day I was reversing in a car park probably doing about 10-15 K's /hr and I heard from my back end a "clonk, clonk, clonk, clonk"

To me it sounds like it's my diff but I hope it isn't. I have replaced the front UNI about a year ago and didn't replace the other UNI because it looked ok. Would it be my diff or UNI?

I haven't noticed any probs in drive.

Cheers.

[SL/ENUT]

At a guess mate, it could be the centre bearing rubber gone. My gold sle use to do this when moving foward, but when reversing, didn't make one sound at all.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Is there a squeak at the same time? Would indicate a uni. When you accelerate hard can you hear a thump under the car? If so that would be the centre bearing. Get under it if you can and grab the yoke on the diff with one hand and the tailshaft with the other and twist it back and forth. If the uni doesnt move it should be OK. The diff would most likely make the noise n o matter which direction you were going.

[craigvk]

At a guess mate, it could be the centre bearing rubber gone. My gold sle use to do this when moving foward, but when reversing, didn't make one sound at all.

Is this bearing where the tail shaft meets together in the middle?

[craigvk]

Is there a squeak at the same time? Would indicate a uni. When you accelerate hard can you hear a thump under the car? If so that would be the centre bearing. Get under it if you can and grab the yoke on the diff with one hand and the tailshaft with the other and twist it back and forth. If the uni doesnt move it should be OK. The diff would most likely make the noise n o matter which direction you were going.

There is no squeak. I only noticed it the other day for the first time. It's only doing it in reverse. It sounded not good at all! I will get to it later and check out this centre bearing. I will look at my factory manuals as a reference.

[SL/ENUT]

Is this bearing where the tail shaft meets together in the middle?

Sure is mate. You need to buy a new centre bearing to do this. Last time i got one, was $150.

[craigvk]

Fark me! 150 bucks! Oh crap. hehe

[craigvk]

Just rang my mate at Autobarn. He quoted me $30 for just the bearing or $250 for the whole thing. He thinks my housing might be broken.

Where did you get yours for $150? I'd love to know!

[SL/ENUT]

We have a place down here called Bearing Service Centre, the sell all types of bearings. The housing it sits in can bend if the centre bearing rubber breaks.

[craigvk]

What did you get for $150?

[DANNY8]

Damn $150!!

Yeah the bearing isn't very expensive, I got mine for $20 new. I wouldn't be spending $150 on it, if ya go to a wreckers u should be able to find a good tailshaft for around $50, and just replace the centre bearing (rubber) in that if it needs it.

When I bought my VH bout 3 years ago the rubber was pretty cactus....the tailshaft was sitting on the hand brake cable......but $20 laster for a new centre bearing and it was fixed.

I have a few tailshafts out the back (just picked up another one 2day actually), if u were closer I could sell ya one for like $20.

[craigvk]

Is it a V8 one? I am pretty sure the bearing is the same as a 6 cylinder one. I suppose you could put it in half and post it but it might cost a lot. I don't know what these bearings are like, I might go look at my manuals. I just hope it's the bearing only cactus or I might be paying for it. I might need to check out the wreckers. Should be able to pick up a shaft for $60.

[DANNY8]

Actually not 100% sure wat box it's for. I'm wreckng a few ol' commy's and it was sittin in the boot....and as it has no motor, trans or diff not sure wat it had in it, when I go out to them next I'm gonna get a pic of all the complience plates so i can look up wat they all have.

But yeah would prolly cost a fair bit to send...would work out cheaper goin to a wrecking yard I rekon.

A local commy wrecker here sells tailshafts for $50 each, but he's normally pretty cheaper then most other places but I'd allow atleast that to get one from a wrecking yard.

[SL/ENUT]

What did you get for $150?

brand new bearing, the rubber it sits in, all the circlips and some retainers for the rubber around the bearing. But remember this is for a 5 litre tailshaft, which is bigger. I think a 5 litre tailshaft is 2 inch round, might be bigger. I think the bearing was made by Hardie Spicer. It was a heavy duty centre bearing too.

Oh and i wouldn't use second hand centre bearings either.

[craigvk]

Do you think a bearing joint could provide me with the necessary parts I need to replace the one I have? I know of a bearing joint near my cousin's farm I might be able to go to or should I just go and pay the $250?

[SL/ENUT]

Hang on. I was looking though some old receipts, i was read the wrong one with the centre bearing. I actually payed $35 for it, not $150. The $150 one was for something else opps. Sorry for that, feel like a dill now.....

Anyway, any bearing place should get them in, they are the same centre bearing for a Ford Falcon, Nissan Skyline and Holden Commodore

[craigvk]

Hang on. I was looking though some old receipts, i was read the wrong one with the centre bearing. I actually payed $35 for it, not $150. The $150 one was for something else opps. Sorry for that, feel like a dill now.....

More like it!!!!! I got quoted 30 bucks today from both Autobarn and Burson for that bearing!

Anyway, any bearing place should get them in, they are the same centre bearing for a Ford Falcon, Nissan Skyline and Holden Commodore

Thanks for the info. Didn't know that but I would have figured that most bearing places would stock the right size bearing but they would probably charge the same as getting a spare part from Autobarn so I'd might as well get it from Autobarn.

[craigvk]

Ok, news. I went out to my car 5 minutes ago and checked the shaft. I could push up and down on the tail shaft where the centre mount is a few mm each way. Is this bad? Do I maybe just need a new centre mount? Maybe the rubber is cactus on that making the tail shaft wobble a lot when in motion?

Cheers.

[SL/ENUT]

There is some small movement there. Best thing to do is jack the rear end up, sit the car on jack stands and climb under and have a long look at it. Even have the car out of gear so you can turn the tailshaft.

[craigvk]

Cheers. I will do that tomorrow I might get some pics if unsure.