After draining diff fluid, I found some large shavings on the magnet. I feel compelled to remove the entire differential for closer inspection. So far I can see nothing obvious like a disintegrated bearing cage, but it is all but impossible to see the differential gears. I measured backlash at .009 and looked at gear mesh using ring/pinion paint; see photos. Based on gear mesh patterns the coast side looks to be a little too high on the ring gear. I'm certainly no expert reading these patterns, so input welcome. I do have some reference material. The drive side looks okay to me.Link to Photos of Diff Pattern and ShavingsSecond link to photos - slideshow

Also not an expert but considerable experience, the ring and pinion appear OK. The metal pieces look to me like chunks of the axle gear bushings and/or spider gear bushings.

Drive side is supposed to be more centered, suspect pinion bearing failure.

Mike,I assume you are referring to the primary pinion attached to the driveline? The primary pinion bearings appear to be fine. I removed the pinion a few days ago and inspected it. Or are you referring to the differential pinions? I plan to remove the differential assy tomorrow and inspect the differential assy. Apologize if I'm asking silly questions, but I am a novice working on differentials.Anther strange thing is the ring gear at the root-heel (very outside edge of the ring gear) gives an appearance like the pinion is meshed too tight; the edge of ring gear has slightly splinterd edges. I expected the pinion to be too close to the ring gear; meshing too close/deep, but the mesh patterns in the photos do not indicate that.

I have seen when a bearing goes bad, the material coming off of them look like small pieces of aluminum foil, Thin sheetlike chips... If that is what they look like they could be from a bearing... Check your pinion for looseness by gripping the driveshaft where it meets the pinion yoke and try shaking it around.. If there is any movement of the pinion where it comes out of the case then it could be the pinion bearing..

Born To Travel wrote:...snip... Check your pinion for looseness by gripping the driveshaft where it meets the pinion yoke and try shaking it around.. If there is any movement of the pinion where it comes out of the case then it could be the pinion bearing..This does make a lot of sense to me. I'm betting he hit it on the head for diagnostics.

1995 P30 Differential Problems; Large Shavings | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

1969SSCamaro
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Mike,
I assume you are referring to the primary pinion attached to the driveline? The primary pinion bearings appear to be fine. I removed the pinion a few days ago and inspected it. Or are you referring to the differential pinions? I plan to remove the differential assy tomorrow and inspect the differential assy. Apologize if I'm asking silly questions, but I am a novice working on differentials.

Anther strange thing is the ring gear at the root-heel (very outside edge of the ring gear) gives an appearance like the pinion is meshed too tight; the edge of ring gear has slightly splinterd edges. I expected the pinion to be too close to the ring gear; meshing too close/deep, but the mesh patterns in the photos do not indicate that.
Mike_Hohnstein
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Drive side is supposed to be more centered, suspect pinion bearing failure.
APRSRVer
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Also not an expert but considerable experience, the ring and pinion appear OK. The metal pieces look to me like chunks of the axle gear bushings and/or spider gear bushings.

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1995 P30 Differential Problems; Large Shavings

13 Replies

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