What is the actual defect on VY ute Diffs?

[crankit]

Hi
I'm aware that there are issues with the VY Ute diffs, but I'm unable to find on this forum what on the diffs is the actual problem or troublesome parts and how to go about fixing them.
Can some one explain to me the details of the design flaws??

From what I've read so far the diffs have bad backlash and fail often and I think I may have read somewhere that the diffs are made by the same mob that supply the ford diffs which also are troublesome.

If recommended, I would get the diff moded or rebuilt to prevent future problems so as I don't have any down time when I might need it most.

[SavVYute]

I don't think there is a problem with VY diffs. I've never heard of any. Pretty bullet proof if you don't flog them.
Check out this site that narrows in on any common quirks with the utes...

Faults - Ute

[Shearer]

Apparently the VY diff are known for excessive backlash. Holden considered it normal (of course!) some didn't like the clunk at all and where replaced under warranty.

Also the diff on my VY SS ute also has a whine at 80km/h. It's being like that for a few years and the noise hasn't altered.

[VYMAD]

My VY V6 Series two sedan has a bit of diff backlash, I started a thread on it years ago called 'VY diff clunk' or something. Now I've learned to back off and re-accelerate without clunking the diff. I found roundabouts, where I'd back off, then quickly accelerate to be the worst.
The fix was something to do with circlips or something within the diff needed replacing but mine's still hangin' in there!

[SavVYute]

My VY V6 Series two sedan has a bit of diff backlash, I started a thread on it years ago called 'VY diff clunk' or something. Now I've learned to back off and re-accelerate without clunking the diff. I found roundabouts, where I'd back off, then quickly accelerate to be the worst.
The fix was something to do with circlips or something within the diff needed replacing but mine's still hangin' in there!

"Driveshaft thump"
Yeah my vy used to give a thump now and then when backing off then accelerating again too.
And I agree with you VYMAD that modifying your driving technique is the answer.
But it usually has nothing to do with the diff as they did it from brand new.
It is a characteristic of EFI engine management systems trying to keep up with rapid changes when quickly decelerating then accelerating again.

[TMM]

But it usually has nothing to do with the diff as they did it from brand new.
It is a characteristic of EFI engine management systems trying to keep up with rapid changes when quickly decelerating then accelerating again.

Lol. It's not the engines fault if it has good throttle response... The engine management updates thousands of times per second, 'keeping up' is not an issue...

It's the diff, they are crap. In most cases the clunk is not terminal, just ignore it. Coming onto the accelerator slowly will take up the slack before you put down power preventing the clunk.

[VYMAD]

My diff didn't used to do it. Then one day when I had approx 80,000 on the clock I noticed the clunk had started.
The thread I started was called as above, but there is more than one thread on this subject and a search will show them up.

[SavVYute]

My diff didn't used to do it. Then one day when I had approx 80,000 on the clock I noticed the clunk had started.
The thread I started was called as above, but there is more than one thread on this subject and a search will show them up.

Pretty much the same with my VY.

Lol. It's not the engines fault if it has good throttle response... The engine management updates thousands of times per second, 'keeping up' is not an issue...

It's the diff, they are crap. In most cases the clunk is not terminal, just ignore it. Coming onto the accelerator slowly will take up the slack before you put down power preventing the clunk.

No ... keeping up is not an issue, but it is an engine management issue that makes you begin to notice it to begin with. In my case it was injectors needed cleaning at 70,000klm (off car) that cured it.
When everything is running right in the efi system there's no problem.

[maginoodle]

the problem i had with mine was it made a grinding type noise once the oil was warmed up(more than 50 km driving). Holden said it was the lsd cones or something i cant quite remember the exact wording. They changed the oil in it but that didnt fix it. It wasnt until i had changed the oil twice more that the noise went away and it hasnt come back and i have done about 20thou more kms.

[Vt_vic]

Pretty much the same with my VY.




No ... keeping up is not an issue, but it is an engine management issue that makes you begin to notice it to begin with. In my case it was injectors needed cleaning at 70,000klm (off car) that cured it.
When everything is running right in the efi system there's no problem.

lol so if you tune the efi properly you can fix the slack on the diff and tailshaft ??

[SavVYute]

lol so if you tune the efi properly you can fix the slack on the diff and tailshaft ??

No. If the efi is running right you'll eliminate driveshaft thump.
Driveshaft thump can happen even on a new car if the efi system is out of whack.
All Commodore drive trains have some amount of slack even when new.