Is this play normal ?

[Jim Lepage]

I have some grinding/whining/shaking sounds coming from my drive line and I'd like some help to find what's causing this. I'm a little bit exhausted, I changed about everything on my car and it keeps breaking.

What I know:

-half-shafts are new
-csb is almost new (2 months)
-guibo is 2 months old too
-used Z3 torsen diff is about 62k miles old (seems to have internal loose or something like that, see video)
-G260 transmission, don't know how old it is (seems to have some loose or something like that, maybe output flange splines, see video)
-last time I had the drive shaft in my hands the rear u-joint was binding a little bit and the front one has a little play.
-I sense vibrations while accelerating, in the 2.5k/3.5k range.
-with the car on jackstands I was giving some small revs and I heard bling bling sounds coming from the output flange to csb area. Like something was loose or shaking.

Here's the videos I shot.

[!kid]

that's a bit of back lash on that diff. mine is similar. the only way to fix it is to remove the diff and have the back lash checked and set. its done by replacing shims with the appropriate thickness. basically the mesh between the rig gear and pinion gear needs to be adjusted. My G260 trans also has slimier play in the out put flange as well as the input flange. My guess to the cause is worn gears. I believe the Bentley Service Manuel has the specifications for all of these. if you have or can get a dial indicator it can be checked, not too difficult.

[Jim Lepage]

Forget about the tranny play. I woke up this morning realizing i tested it off gear. I tried on first gear and it's fine.

[Jim Lepage]

79 views and only one comment.

Anyway tonight I'm gonna remove the driveshaft and bring it for a rebuild.

[TSI]

that's a bit of back lash on that diff. mine is similar. the only way to fix it is to remove the diff and have the back lash checked and set. its done by replacing shims with the appropriate thickness. basically the mesh between the rig gear and pinion gear needs to be adjusted. My G260 trans also has slimier play in the out put flange as well as the input flange. My guess to the cause is worn gears. I believe the Bentley Service Manuel has the specifications for all of these. if you have or can get a dial indicator it can be checked, not too difficult.

This. I have the same issue. Always a good idea to rebuild the shaft if it`s got any binding, to avoid further damage.

[!kid]

hear is a great write up on how to rebuild a med case LSD.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1650106-The-E36-Diff-Thread