ive been looking over the car, as ive not done so for a while & noticed that the shatfs are quite lose. theres no leaks but the diff bearings seem loose. ive had this a number of times on other cars so no what to do like. but how tight do thay need to be, normally on other cars. you need just a slight bit of play but as the car a awd?

any body any advice.

 

, has any one any idea about this...

 

Just because the shafts have play in them, does not mean that the bearings are lose.....the shafts aren't held by the bearings, they are supported by the diff housing, which is then supported by the bearings.....

 

this is what i needed to know. now i can just tighten the cups up.
the diff housing has bearings in there too, arnt there. its just the amount of play, well i think theres to much. just wanted to make sure that is i do tighten the cups up. it wouldent damagethe main diff bearing up. every time i go into garages i get told to seek a gear box specialist.
any way, bottom line. if i do tighten the cups up, will it do any damage at all.thanks for the advice, cheers

 

By 'cups' do you mean the bit where the drive shaft comes out of?? i think they are kind of pre-loaded for the diff bearings..... if you're unsure, get it to somewhere like API or similar, they would be able to have a look and advise as to what may be necessary.... sorry can't help more, i don't want to give advice on something that i'm not really au fair with myself....

 

i could try api, i dont really like garages. ive found over the years, not all but most rip you off. ive always done my car my self. engine/body work my self. i have done this sort of thing be fore on other cars but just need to make sure that being an awd car, thediff isent suposed to be lose. as i said, theres no noise/leaks at all. im just conserned about the play on both sides. well thanks for that any ways...

 

if you mean you can hold the drive shaft joint that comes out of the box and wiggle it then it probably is normal they do move quite a bit. to feel the bearings you would have to take the driveshaft of the splined shafts they slide over and even then there is still a smidge of play. the newer cars have a different set up and there is no play at all but the older ones do feel as though the diff is falling out of it's bearings.

 

yes, when you hold the shafts thay feel loose. i was going to tighten them slightly. just need to make sure there is a problem first. i just need to mainly find out/deturman to how much play thay should have. when being driven, there dont seem any thing wrong but mainly finding out if it is normal or a problem. thanks for that.