Those of you with welded diffs

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tompumped

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After you installed your welded differential did you notice bearing whine? I doubt it is just from installing the welded diff. I have driven my car 200 miles so far and now I can't drive without the radio on, it's not enjoyable at all.
The transmission shifts perfect and I don't think I messed up reassembling, but I might have. The whine isn't very loud but it's noticable.
When I push the clutch in it goes away. I"m thinking about pulling my trans again, but I have no desire to at all. The fluid level is good. I don't think it was possible for me to get any races mixed up (because of sizes) and I put the shims back where they came from.
What could this be, other than human error?
This wasn't my first time inside a manual transmission either.
 
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Phoenix

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what kind of TOB are you using, and how old is it?

If it goes out like you said (when pressing clutch) , you will need to put in a new TOB. We STRONGLY recommand you buy one from shonut , the ceramic one. you wont regret it.

At least you wont have to dismantle the whole thing.
 

tompumped

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I installed a new clutch kit when I did the work along with a bunch of other crap.
I would've bought the ceramic tob, but this clutch lasted 112k with the original tob. It was eating the fingers though. I also might boost the car in the distant future and upgrade the clutch and diff. That's when i'll buy one.
I was thinking the tob was defective right when I started the car because I was hearing strange noise come and go, but I think it was the bearing face slipping on the fingers because it was new and stiff. Sdpatt posted something about this also that I found.
I think I messed up somewhere when I reassembled the trans as much as i'd like to think not.
 
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sho4life

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I can only imagine how mad you are, so many people say get the ceramic tob so i am, i decided if something goes wrong on mine after install its getting scraped
 

tompumped

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I just went drove it again, it is definitely the tranny. The noise is present in every gear, more so under accel. It's not that loud, but it wasn't there before.
I guess i'll have to pull the trans again unless I want to shop for another soon. I can't wait. :banghd:
The hard part is getting it out. I checked my basement twice for a shim I might've missed and nothing.

edit
I never said it, but sweet ******* car and mega man was the shit. That thing must sound nasty. How much are you pushing?
 
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tompumped

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The spider gear pins like to eject because they are held in with roll pins that wear out. There are three pins, one long and two short ones.
My first car ever ejected the long pin after way to much abuse, that's why I went this route now. While you have your trans apart for the rebuild i'd recommend this, even though from what i've seen, which is little, they can take massive abuse before letting go. I was also doing a burnout with the wheel cut when it ejected which is a big no, no.
It's cheap to mail it to tysho and the turnaround time is great. Or at the least change the roll pins, that is also part of his service he uses stainless pins.
 
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Phoenix

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I just went drove it again, it is definitely the tranny. The noise is present in every gear, more so under accel. It's not that loud, but it wasn't there before.
I guess i'll have to pull the trans again unless I want to shop for another soon. I can't wait. :banghd:
The hard part is getting it out. I checked my basement twice for a shim I might've missed and nothing.

edit
I never said it, but sweet ******* car and mega man was the shit. That thing must sound nasty. How much are you pushing?

Yup it sounds nasty , well some of the people here heard it at the convention. I havnt put it on the 1/4 and on the dyno yet , but im guesstimating it @ around 300 crank hp (260-280 wheelhp)

One thing I know is that im dead even with an impreza STi (late models) in the 20-70 mph range (havnt tested more then that - 55mph limit zone....)
 

AREA 91

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After you installed your welded differential did you notice bearing whine? I doubt it is just from installing the welded diff. I have driven my car 200 miles so far and now I can't drive without the radio on, it's not enjoyable at all.
The transmission shifts perfect and I don't think I messed up reassembling, but I might have. The whine isn't very loud but it's noticable.
When I push the clutch in it goes away. I"m thinking about pulling my trans again, but I have no desire to at all. The fluid level is good. I don't think it was possible for me to get any races mixed up (because of sizes) and I put the shims back where they came from.
What could this be, other than human error?
This wasn't my first time inside a manual transmission either.

Is the diff from this tranny or another one?
 

tompumped

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the diff was from this tranny.
There is also a distinct knock at idle sometimes that will go away if the clutch is pushed in.
I'm aware of the tsb for the noise associated. I think it was neutral rollover or something. This noise wasn't there before or it wasn't this loud.
I wanted to hear a few ideas, but in reality I guess i'm wasting time, I just have to pull it.
I don't know if the tob is defective also and causing another noise?
I have to wait though, I can't be without a car right now.
thank you
 

formersho

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The knock you hear is the TOB against the pressure plate. Its normal and there is nothing you can do about it. Whine is usually associate by lack of fluid or incorrect shimming of gears... or if the tranny was ever run out of fluid in its life time it can still whine later on.
 

TYSHO

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1. Did you install any Al SFB's or reinforced engine mounts?


2. Is the whine associated with vehicle speed or rpm speed?


3. Disconnect the clutch cable and pull the TOB arm lever back to remove the TOB from contact. Does the noise go away?


4. Did you drop the any bearings and possibly dent the bearing cage?


5. Did you have any trouble installing the casing halves?
 

tompumped

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1.Already had aluminum bushings and reinforced mounts.

2.I'm pretty sure the whine is louder with vehicle speed, i'll get back to you tomorrow.

3.I'll try that also, i'm thinking the knocking is coming from inside the trans, because it doesn't go away right when I press the clutch.

4.I didn't dent any cages as far as I know. I also doubt I mixed up a bearing if that is possible. I was maybe thinking I mixed up a race, but I doubt the whine would be this prevalent.

5.I did have trouble at first, because of a stupid mistake. Then it went together nice.

I must have mixed up a shim, i'm too careful to mix up a race. I doubt it can be the tob whining based on the sound, but I don't know.

If I mixed up a shim how many bearings use the same size shim, if any? I want to know what to look for if I tear it apart again. It would probably be obvious though.
I believe the shims I saw were one per bearing, but I guess there could be two per bearing also.
I never heard knocking this loud before so I doubt it's normal. I never heard any abnormal noises except maybe a slight knock, and my pp fingers were screwed. I also replaced the fork pivot bushings.
I have gotten on the car and it shifts fine at every rpm. Could a shim issue cause shifting complications?
Any ideas are welcome i'm no expert

-edit-
With the cable disconnected no difference.
I didn't inspect the diff bearing when I got the diff back in the mail. Maybe a bearing got damaged?
When I disconnected the cable the car started rolling back, I almost forgot. I don't know if that is a sign of anything. I think it wasn't in gear when it happened.
 
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TYSHO

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1.Already had aluminum bushings and reinforced mounts.

2.I'm pretty sure the whine is louder with vehicle speed, i'll get back to you tomorrow.

3.I'll try that also, i'm thinking the knocking is coming from inside the trans, because it doesn't go away right when I press the clutch.

4.I didn't dent any cages as far as I know. I also doubt I mixed up a bearing if that is possible. I was maybe thinking I mixed up a race, but I doubt the whine would be this prevalent.

5.I did have trouble at first, because of a stupid mistake. Then it went together nice.

I must have mixed up a shim, i'm too careful to mix up a race. I doubt it can be the tob whining based on the sound, but I don't know.

If I mixed up a shim how many bearings use the same size shim, if any? I want to know what to look for if I tear it apart again. It would probably be obvious though.
I believe the shims I saw were one per bearing, but I guess there could be two per bearing also.
I never heard knocking this loud before so I doubt it's normal. I never heard any abnormal noises except maybe a slight knock, and my pp fingers were screwed. I also replaced the fork pivot bushings.
I have gotten on the car and it shifts fine at every rpm. Could a shim issue cause shifting complications?
Any ideas are welcome i'm no expert

-edit-
With the cable disconnected no difference.
I didn't inspect the diff bearing when I got the diff back in the mail. Maybe a bearing got damaged?
When I disconnected the cable the car started rolling back, I almost forgot. I don't know if that is a sign of anything. I think it wasn't in gear when it happened.

1. That's already going to amplify any noises you're going to hear coming from the engine bay area, and depending on the style of mount you have can increase that, as well. I can personally hear my gears slow down when being shifted into, and the whole clash from the synchronizers upon engagement.

2. You can test that in your driveway. If you can rev the motor while parked and the noise increases, it's not going to be associated with the differential.

3. I'll agree with you on that, but all of the internals do not come to a complete stop instantly when you press in the clutch. This is why you must engage a gear before selecting reverse. You can test thisk in your driveway, too. If the noises come and go during this driveway test, it's something in the transmission but not the differential.

4. I haven't torn into my transmissions in awhile, so I can't say anything on the bearings and races right now.

5. What was this mistake? Did you have trouble keeping the race and shims in place on assemble? Did you double check that you didn't lose a shim inside the casing? They're hard to notice if you're frustrated and trying to get the job finished. I had to remove my transmission and crack the case back open when I reached for a tool and grabbed a shim...


In my opinion, and as far as the synchronizer travels during a shift, a shim will have no effect on shifting.

About the differential bearing, I'd look into it. I know they were good when it was in my hands and being boxed up, but I have no idea on the shipment back. Was the box damaged up any?

Also, what do you consider a knock? And is it a knock, whine, or both? I also read in you cracked rack thread the noise is coming and going at times, what times do you speak of? Other than that, it's best to find out first where the problem is coming from, the differential or the shafts.
 

tompumped

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The initial noise I had isn't there anymore. I read an old post by sdpatt where he had a similar noise. I think the new tob was so stiff it was slipping on the fingers. It was a weird noise.
There is a distinct tapping at idle only sometimes it's there when i'm in neutral at a light clutch out. I don't know how to explain how fast or loud it is to give you an idea. If I rev the motor it goes away around 2k. It is a knock and whine to answer your question.
The mistake I made was leaving a bolt in the case half. I realized when I took it back off. After I removed the bolt it went together fine.
I really don't think I mixed up a shim or missed one, but anything is possible.
The box looked good when I got it back.
I had a whining differential in a rwd car and it was similar to this as far as occurrence, but this is nowhere near as loud. I haven't been on the highway at 80 with the windows closed in a few days, but it is louder with speed.
 
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