can anyone explain wot a plated rear diff does? i have a clunking noise when i corner at low speed.i took it to a garage yesterday,and they said it was a plated rear diff!!! help!

 

A plated diff is one which has a sandwitch of friction plates mounted within the diff. The plates are forced together by a series of springs.
As the car goes in a straight line the drive to both rear wheels is equal so giving great traction. The two outputs are effectivly joined by a sprung clutch, because as the car goes round a tight bend the speed differential between the road wheels forces the plated to slip by each other, hence the noise you can hear.

This can be a very disconcerting 'crack'.

Graham