Rear diff whining, which diffs fit?

[S3dave1990]

Afternoon guys n gals

As in the title my rear diff has just about had it, well it drives and the 4wd still works just its getting really noisy now and its annoying on motorway runs.

So i was wondering what diffs fit? Mk5 r32? Or is it any gen 2 haldex diffs, will a gen 3 from the facelift s3 fit? Mines a pre facelift s3 by the way. Just a case of swapping out the haldex unit?

Cheers
Dave w

 

[dave_beastttt]

Are you 100% sure it's your differential? Have you moved tyres around to see if it makes any difference?

 

[ab1702]

Afternoon guys n gals

As in the title my rear diff has just about had it, well it drives and the 4wd still works just its getting really noisy now and its annoying on motorway runs.

So i was wondering what diffs fit? Mk5 r32? Or is it any gen 2 haldex diffs, will a gen 3 from the facelift s3 fit? Mines a pre facelift s3 by the way. Just a case of swapping out the haldex unit?

Cheers
Dave w

Might not be the diff. At the rear of the propshaft where it connects to the haldex unit they have a round vibration damper which is prone to failing with age and signs of this are noise and vibrations/droning. I'm changing mine tomorrow as it was in the garage for a service and he said it were no good and I had read about it online. It's worth checking before buying another rear diff.
Tyres will cause noise aswell if they're not in good condition.

 

[S3dave1990]

Ive had 3 different sets of wheels on now, all brand new tyres. Ive had it in the garage and he had a stethoscope on the diff and said its making noise, is it the donut you're on about? Ill have a look at the weekend. The noise is a whining at 40 and at 70. A new diff from audi is £3k so that's not an option. Theres plenty on ebay but dont fancy buying one for it to be the same, theres a transmission specialist near me says they can refurb it but ive read they cant be refurbed

Cheers
Dave w

 

[ab1702]

Ive had 3 different sets of wheels on now, all brand new tyres. Ive had it in the garage and he had a stethoscope on the diff and said its making noise, is it the donut you're on about? Ill have a look at the weekend. The noise is a whining at 40 and at 70. A new diff from audi is £3k so that's not an option. Theres plenty on ebay but dont fancy buying one for it to be the same, theres a transmission specialist near me says they can refurb it but ive read they cant be refurbed

Cheers
Dave w

Yes that's it it's the doughnut. I've just changed mine a few hours ago and it's a much smoother and quieter ride now. The doughnut is steel and rubber and is meant to move in and out to absorb the vibrations but when we've took the old one off it were seized solid and the rubber had split. It cost me £107 off eBay

 

[dave_beastttt]

Just seen this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-S3-A...337978?hash=item1ec348a97a:g:0xUAAOSwFe5X0Wna

 

[S3dave1990]

Just seen this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-S3-A...337978?hash=item1ec348a97a:g:0xUAAOSwFe5X0Wna

That wouldve been ideal but its 5 hours away from me, cheers for that though. Ima buy a rear donut and try that i wouldn't care the haldex unit has been serviced every 10k miles and the rear diff oil has been changed twice along with the gearbox oil

Cheers lads
Dave w

 

[dave_beastttt]

I know it sounds like a longshot, but have you tried putting some ZX1 in the diff?

 

[ab1702]

It sounds like the car has been looked after so I found it hard to believe the diff would be knackered although I'm obviously no mechanic. As you say the bloke had the stethoscope on the diff in the garage, that's all good and well but unless he were to do that as you say at 40 or 70 mph then it seems a bit pointless to me.
Get the doughnut and see how it goes if I were you and hopefully it isn't the diff! No point changing the diff first and then finding out it's the doughnut that's at fault

 

[S3dave1990]

Yeah its been well looked after to be honest im going to order the donut tonight see if i can get it ready to change at the weekend, am i right in thinking the front and rear donut are different or are they the same?

I cant remember what oil was used when it was changed, ill try this donut then ill look into the zx1

Cheerd
Dave w

 

[ab1702]

Yeah its been well looked after to be honest im going to order the donut tonight see if i can get it ready to change at the weekend, am i right in thinking the front and rear donut are different or are they the same?

I cant remember what oil was used when it was changed, ill try this donut then ill look into the zx1

Cheerd
Dave w

They're both different. Part number for the rear dohnut is 1K0521307.