Driveshaft play
 

just trying to track down a knocking noise on my classic after fitting new rear dampers, due to failure at 147K miles btw. found what seemed to be quite a lot of play where the shafts go into the rear diff. i think i know the answer but is this normal, should there be play.

If not how easy is it to remove the rear diff, do i have to take the rear hubs off as well?

Cheers

Check your driveshaft nuts. Just look to see if the staking has moved away from the groove in the shaft. May well not be your prob but easy to look. I had a click/clunk in my transmission for 18 months driving me mad till I found loose nut at NSF.

have u checked the big nut on top of the shockers mounts with weight on the car

checked the big nuts and the topmount nuts, all ok, the noise only occurs during slow speed manouvering such as on and off the drive.

Really need to know if the play in the driveshafts where they go into the diff is normal.

Cheers

try the bottom ball joint at that mileage .

no ball joint to check on the rears. all the arms and linkages appear to be ok

going back to the question you asked,lol...i have wrx wagon with 48k and i have a small amount of play/movement at the diff-cups. I think this is perfectly normal & doesnt cause me any problems. The front and rear cups are both sloppy and as i said the car has only done 48k and not really driven that aggresively. In my opinion...i wouldnt worry about the problem mate.
Check anti-roll bar bushes or drop links as these are prone to heavey wear and cause knocking/clunking.