Diff noises... I think?

[DJP16]

My 98 VT Exec seems to be making a bit of noise in the diff in two different situations:

• When I change it from Drive to Reverse I will hear a metal chink when it changes
• When moving from a higher gear to a lower gear quickly, you can hear a noise similar, and feel a bit of a knock

I'm guessing it's the diff, but could it be the auto transmission? If it is the diff, has anyone had anything similar? After searching the forums I found similar symptoms but not identical on some threads, so I hope someone has encountered this before? Thanks

[lufkin]

mine used to do this, mechanics called it diff slap, only option i had to was to replace the diff, apparently its pretty common so trying to find a second hand diff that hasnt got the problem, or about to get the problem is a pain

[goose202]

Can also be the CVs in the driveshafts.

The VTs didn't have the rubber donuts on the tailshaft, did they?

[Nobody Actually]

That "chink" is the gear box afaik, I recently had the gearbox in the caprice rebuilt, and after being told by everyone for the first 4 years of owning the car that it was the diff, when the new box went in, it was gone, mechanic has shown me the part that was making the noise, it's a part of the reverse gearing and a common fault due to weak welds he says.
If you loose reverse gear, that part has more than likely snapped.

[brycieboy]

im with goode202... but yeah only if it has the rubber doughnuts in the tail shaft. i had a verry similar noise. and they were really destroyed, id check them (if it has them) if not... good luck