You know what I mean, the low speed click, heard it called "box of gravel" sound. Mines always done it, and its very annoying. I've pulled the cover on the rear and everything looks great. What the hell causes it? Axles banging the clips? Just curious.
pat

 

Some say it's common with a Torsen diff, an Auburn can make the same noise if it has the wrong friction modifier.
With both differentials the noise might be eliminated by adding a 4 ounce bottle of GM or ford friction modifier, not the cheap stuff. And don't use synthetic gear oil with an Auburn.
Torsens website has a FAQ section and it describes a noise, says to add the fm to eliminate it.

 

If it is a Torsen, it is very common, as previously stated. It's just the worm gears rattling against the carrier when there is no load on the rear. It doesn't really hurt anything.

I know that Torsen says that one can use the modifier on their website, but for the life of me, I can't understand how it could make any difference. There are no true friction elements in the unit.

 

Just to make sure we're talking about the same noise, when you get mine in the air and push in on the rear axles and you get the bang, thats the noise, only when theres no load on the rear.

 

Well, it's always difficult to diagnose a noise over the cold silence of the internet, but it doesn't sound like the same thing. A bang sounds too violent. The noise that one would attribute to the Torsen would occur while rotating the wheels without any load (i.e., trans in neutral) on the rear. It would sound like marbles rolling around in the rear. If you have a bang from pushing the axle in toward the rear, something else is going on. A c-clip could be gone, in which case the only thing that would be holding the axle in is the brake caliper. But, you've said you've removed the cover and didn't see anything wrong. I'm now confused with your original statement of a gravel sound morphing into a bang. Which is it?

 

morphing.....? Kinda like a POWER RANGER? Sweet....

 

were you an avid fan? lol

 

Thats normal with any c-clip type rear. The axle should move in and out up to 1/8" plus or minus a little.

 

Yeah, its not morphed into anything, its sounds like a couple gravel in a cardboard box. And yeah, its sounds similar to pushing in on the axles, of course being right at the rear wheel and inside the cabin offer two different volume levels.

 

Well, then, if it is a Torsen, then you're probably OK. If it's not, then...yikes!

 

make sure u don't add friction modifier to your gear oil. Torsens use synthetic oil. Auburns get dino oil with 4 to 8 oz. of friction modifier. i use all 8oz. in my 98.

 

Torsens website says to use friction modifier for the rusty screw sounds.

 

Thanks for all the replies! Its a Torsen, I changed the fluid recently,didnt use synthetic and did use friction modifier, but not the GM. I'm sure its the same ole Torsen noise most get, just wondered if there's any way to quiet it down, lol. May use the GM stuff next time and see if it makes any difference.

 

are you talking about the Gm rear end additive? cause i have that same box of gravel sound. I dont mean to hi-jack the thread but i gotta know cause i have a 99 (not sure if its a torsen or aubern) i just did the rear end fluid change with mobil-1...thats it. Should i have used the gm additive too?
thanks and sorry about the hi-jack but i gotta know!

 

That sound is normal. Just get used to it.

 

ok. As long as its normal it wont bother me....thanks!!

 

ok mine has done this before too and they have added the additive and then the sound disappears. Now it's making it again and I was reading another thread on her and it said to switch to Royal Purple's MAXGEAR 75w90

"https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=879354&highlight=rear+end+additiv e"

I even went and watched the video on Royal Purple's website on how much it changed the drag and temperature making better gas mileage on the TRUCKS show they promoted it on.

"http://www.royalpurple.com/rp-video-4/trucks.html"

So before I do something wrong what's the final say.. I know for a fact I have a Auburn Torsen Differential because I ordered the car myself.

Royal Purple 75w90 or GM's way and the additive?

 

You have one or the other, not both. If you have the Auburn, you don't want to use the Royal Purple (no synthetic).