grinding noise from rear end

[new2bmw]

hey guys, question for you. I just started to dig into my 89 325i and i got the rear end up and am hearing a ginding noise form thre diff area. It seems to be coming from where the driveshaft goes into the diff. There is the remnants of what appears to be a dust shield of some sort there but it is rusted out. Anyone else have this problem? Any ideas (other then replaceing everything) as to what I may be able to do to fix this?
cheers
Larry

[MikeK]

have you replaced your wheel bearings?

[2002maniac]

or checked the E-brake adjustment?

[gearheadE30]

Some diff whine is normal for these cars when they get up in mileage, FYI. Could be the input shaft bearing, though.

[TooTall90]

yea i kinda have the same problem but it only happens when im brake fast from high speeds. i thought it was the brakes themselves or maybe ABS. is their a chance that its the Diff? or anything else mentioned?

[gearheadE30]

If its braking hard, no way is it the diff. That's probably just the standard noise that pads make when they are under a lot of stress.

[new2bmw]

brakes

I am going to be looking at the brakes and wheel bearings, i will be looking everything over. I am just wondering how could brakes or bearings cause a grinding noise to be coming from where the driveshaft meets the diff? Dont get me wrong it would be great if it was just the brakes or the bearings, I know the brakes are rubbing when i hand turn the wheels i can hear them, but this is deffinately from the diff area.
cheers guys.
thanks for the replies so quickly. I will for sure have more questions as my work goes on.

[Asbradley21]

yea i kinda have the same problem but it only happens when im brake fast from high speeds. i thought it was the brakes themselves or maybe ABS. is their a chance that its the Diff? or anything else mentioned?

If its more of a banging noise, check your transmission mounts, mine blew once and under hard braking and the center bearing blown too, the driveshaft would bang up against the underside of the car.