ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

Is it ok to use and how do I repair as cheap as possiblemas ive gt no cash.

My car has 18889 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there:

Thanks for writing in to YourMechanic about the noise coming from your rear differential. There are multiple mechanical problems that could be causing your noise, ranging from a bad differential seal to problems with the lateral link. Either one could break sooner rather than later; so I wouldn’t recommend driving the vehicle any more than you should.

Instead of taking your Subaru to a shop, why not contact one of our local ASE certified mechanics, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect and diagnose the precise cause of your rear end noise? It will most likely be much more affordable than taking it to most shops.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

If the cause of the noise is inside the differential, this can be due to either tight-meshing pinion gears, or too much backlash on these gears. Another cause could be worn out differential-case bearings, and these can also cause noise when turning.
Noises: The most common sign of a failing rear differential will be a whining noise due to a lack of lubrication of its internal components. Gear Grinding: Humming noises and gear grinding can also indicate an issue with your rear differential.
Hearing an increase in the level of humming noises or gear grinding is a way of knowing almost for sure that you have a worn out differential. Usually the humming gets louder under acceleration. When this occurs it`s best to check the condition of your differential and replace if it`s in a rough condition.
A howl or whine during acceleration over a small or large speed range is usually caused by worn ring and pinion gears or improper gear set up. Rumbling or whirring at speeds over about 20 mph can be caused by worn carrier bearings. The noise may change while turning.
Differential Noise:

Unlike a wheel bearing, where the noise will change with wheel speed but typically will not change with variations in load (acceleration/deceleration), the noise heard from a failing bearing within the differential will make a roaring or growling noise on changes in load as well as changes in speed.

A tell-tale sign that this bushing is no longer performing as intended is hearing a clunking noise or feeling a jolt under acceleration or when shifting gears from drive to reverse.
A “whirring” sound generated by unloading via deceleration from most any regular road speed can likely be traced to pinion bearing failure or poor pinion bearing preload. This malady is often diagnosed as a bad ring and pinion gear.
If you hear a loud clunking noise when shifting your vehicle, this is another sign of driveshaft damage.
Weird Noises

Another symptom of a bad differential oil is whirring, whining, or howling strange noises, indicating that the metal part, clutches, gears, and differentials have not been lubricated due to a dirty lack of clean oil.

The differential mode noise is an electrical signal which appears in one or two of the lines in a closed loop. The noise appears on two conductors of a closed loop, it appears in series with the desired signal while the current flows in opposite directions.
Whining Differential or Transmission

If the gear oil runs low or becomes excessively dirty, it can cause the gears to whine or howl as they turn. The whining or howling is caused by lack of lubrication and may increase in volume as vehicle speed increases.

Axles that have been in service for a long time are bound to produce steering noise or noise from their joints. You will feel this because the joints are worn out and need to be replaced. This is completely normal, as every mechanical component will eventually need to be replaced.
While you can drive with a damaged car differential, it is not the safest option. By waiting to complete the repair, other parts of your car may become damaged. This can hurt your car significantly and make a simple repair much more expensive.
Without differential fluid, the differential would overheat due to metal-on-metal contact. That means it would burn itself out and possibly cause safety issues and require expensive repairs.
While you can drive with a damaged car differential, it is not the safest option. By waiting to complete the repair, other parts of your car may become damaged. This can hurt your car significantly and make a simple repair much more expensive.
Whining Differential or Transmission

If the gear oil runs low or becomes excessively dirty, it can cause the gears to whine or howl as they turn. The whining or howling is caused by lack of lubrication and may increase in volume as vehicle speed increases.

Whining Differential or Transmission

If the gear oil runs low or becomes excessively dirty, it can cause the gears to whine or howl as they turn. The whining or howling is caused by lack of lubrication and may increase in volume as vehicle speed increases.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.
ANSWER : Hi there:

Thanks for writing in to YourMechanic about the noise coming from your rear differential. There are multiple mechanical problems that could be causing your noise, ranging from a bad differential seal to problems with the lateral link. Either one could break sooner rather than later; so I wouldn’t recommend driving the vehicle any more than you should.

Instead of taking your Subaru to a shop, why not contact one of our local ASE certified mechanics, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect and diagnose the precise cause of your rear end noise? It will most likely be much more affordable than taking it to most shops.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

Clicking noise in idle (link of Video of noise included)
ANSWER : Hi there. Although it is hard to pinpoint the exact source of this noise via a video, it sounds a lot like an exhaust leak. When the exhaust manifold of exhaust tubes age, they are exposed to elements, creating weakness in the metal and eventually will crack or break. It is also possible that this sound is caused by cylinder head hardware that is loose (such as lifters or rocker arms) or not getting enough lubrication. Again, without being there it is impossible to know for certain, but you might want to have a professional mechanic complete a car is making a noise inspection to determine what is causing this issue.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

How do you detect the grinding noise in the rear diferential, rear wheel drive?
ANSWER : Hi there. Raise up the vehicle off the ground and put it on jack stands where all the wheels are off the ground. Check the rear differential fluid in the rear axle on the car. See if there is fluid in the differential. If there is no fluid, then fill up the differential with the gear oil that the vehicle came with from factory and recheck for any noise. If the fluid is full, start up the vehicle and step on the service brakes to the floor. Put the transmission in low and let off the brake. If the differential was damaged it will make a noise like grinding or a banging noise. If there is no noise, then shut off the engine and put the transmission in park when the wheels stop turning. Lower the vehicle and take the vehicle for a test drive. With all of the windows down, if there is a grinding noise, then the differential or transmission may be damaged to where only a load will cause the sound. This would be a bearing in the differential or transmission failing. If you need further assistance locating the grinding noise under your vehicle, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

Car noise at higher speeds on slightly rough roads
ANSWER : You will not find any info to fix a problem when the speed is above the rated legal limits. I do not find any information on this problem. The noise may be from the tires that the car has on them. Have the dealer take a look at the vehicle to make sure the tires are okay for this speed.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

My car starter was fixed recently, when I got my car back I noticed a flapping or ticking noise like a card in a bike spoke. Now i
ANSWER : Hi there. Typically replacing a starter on a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica shouldn’t require much ’fiddling around’, however, it’s possible that the mechanic was replacing a starter relay if the original replacement didn’t solve the issue. That shouldn’t cause a ticking noise as you’ve described though. It’s probably a good idea to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a car is making a noise inspection, especially if this noise is progressively getting worse. This will allow them to isolate the source of the noise and determine what repairs are needed to resolve this problem.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

Car noise at higher speeds on slightly rough roads
ANSWER : Hello there, many different items can begin to cause noise at this type of speed. In many cases this is not noticed as the highest speed limits in most areas is 85 MPH. The most likely cause is body noise, interior panels rubbing, struts, wheel bearings, or the tires themselves.

If you’d like a second opinion on this, consider enlisting a qualified technicians who can diagnose the sound you’re hearing. An accurate repair can then be made once the issue has been pinpointed.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

Clunking noise from rear suspension
ANSWER : It is possible that you could have some play in your rear control arm bushings or rear toe adjustment links. I would recommend having a rear suspension inspection performed by a qualified professional to determine where the noise is coming from. This will include shaking down the wheels in all directions and noting excessive movements. Once the exact part that is causing the issue has been diagnosed and replaced, an alignment will be required in order to bring the vehicle back to specification.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

When I turn my car slightly to the left, I hear a humming noise almost like a rubbing noise. The steering wheel doesnt vibrate
ANSWER : The noise could be from the wheel bearing rubbing as it may have dry grease inside the bearing. The noise also could be the power steering pump as there is a load applied to the pump more than steering the other direction. Also, check the tires on the vehicle and see if the tread is rubbing on the fender or the frame as if the tires may be too wide for the steering of the vehicle.

If you need further assistance with the vehicle making a rubbing noise when turning to the left, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : ive got noise from rear differential and noticed ihave slight movement in nearside shaft.

Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.