Clunk & Stop

[gfunkie]

As much as I talked up about my e30 being bullet proof the nightmare has begun. *tun-tun-tun*

Recently I started hearing a clicking sound like metal to metal when coasting or while driving steady at highway speeds. Then it started doing it at lower speeds. I thought it was the newly modified exhaust that was loose or something? Checked it out and it was nice and solid. Wasn't that.

Now, I knew there was a leak from the rear diff for the 1 1/2 years that I've owned the e30. So I checked out to see if there was sufficient gear oil. There was, but the oil was BLACK and metallic! I changed the oil. Removed the speedo sensor from the diff and there was metallic gunk all over it! Cleaned it up.

Took it out for a test drive with the new oil and still the clicking was there but it was sounding worse.

What I've checked so far; suspension is good, shifts smoothly, clutch is good, guibo looks good(no cracks), brakes are good. I've lifted the rear end, when it is in 2nd gear @ 2500-3000RPM the clicking begins.

As far as the "clunk & stop" that happened while driving slowly in 2nd gear. I was slowly driving down the street when all of a sudden the car clunks and the rear wheels locked up. When the car is lifted I try to manually turn the drive shaft and it locks up.

Thoughts? Thank you in advance. :D

*1991 318i 5-speed

[gfunkie]

bump

[gfunkie]

anyone?

[TobyB]

What version E30 is it?
The small- case diff bolts can come loose, work their way out, and lock the diff.
That would explain your noise and metal content- they grind away at the case...
The spider gears can also break- but E30 spiders are a lot tougher than the earlier ones.

When it's lifted, if you try to turn one wheel, does the other turn the opposite way?
or are they both locked?

t

[gfunkie]

What version E30 is it?
The small- case diff bolts can come loose, work their way out, and lock the diff.
That would explain your noise and metal content- they grind away at the case...
The spider gears can also break- but E30 spiders are a lot tougher than the earlier ones.

When it's lifted, if you try to turn one wheel, does the other turn the opposite way?
or are they both locked?

t

When it's lifted the wheels turn the opposite way.

[TobyB]

My guess is that the ring gear bolts have backed out, and bound the gear.
If the wheels turn in opposite directions when the trans is in neutral,
then the spiders are still working.

If it was me, at this point, I'd unhook the driveshaft from the diff,
and make sure it turns, and that the diff pinion flange doesn't.

Then I'd drop the diff and pull the back cover.

You MIGHT be able to see in there through the filler hole or the
speedo sensor hole- I don't remember for the E30 small case...

Just a guess over the internet.
t

[gfunkie]

My guess is that the ring gear bolts have backed out, and bound the gear.
If the wheels turn in opposite directions when the trans is in neutral,
then the spiders are still working.

If it was me, at this point, I'd unhook the driveshaft from the diff,
and make sure it turns, and that the diff pinion flange doesn't.

Then I'd drop the diff and pull the back cover.

You MIGHT be able to see in there through the filler hole or the
speedo sensor hole- I don't remember for the E30 small case...

Just a guess over the internet.
t

Definitely something wrong with the diff. The wheels turn opposite directions BUT, when I give it some play going the opposite direction one wheel spins while the other doesn't spin.

Next step is to drop the diff and see whats going on inside. Which other diff can I put in to it, I mainly use it to commute on highways. It currently has the small case 4.10.

Could I install any other e30 diff just so I could have a running car again?

Thanks gang!;)

[gfunkie]

bump!