Notorious Center diff movement

[blakeaowen15]

I have a clicking sound coming from my car when I accelerate and brake, and I think I know what it is, just want confirmation from someone that this is not normal or maybe it is. When I take off my center diff cover I’m able to move my center diff left and right. Is that normal? I know you don’t want this to happen to front and rear diff but what about the center diff?!

 

[slick2500]

I have a clicking sound coming from my car when I accelerate and brake, and I think I know what it is, just want confirmation from someone that this is not normal or maybe it is. When I take off my center diff cover I’m able to move my center diff left and right. Is that normal? I know you don’t want this to happen to front and rear diff but what about the center diff?!

Does it move with the diff cover on? The cover keeps the mounts aligned and without it the center diff can and will move.

 

[blakeaowen15]

Does it move with the diff cover on? The cover keeps the mounts aligned and without it the center diff can and will move.

Yes it does

 

[dure16]

I would interpret left to right movement as bad diff outer bearings.

 

[nomis38]

I would interpret left to right movement as bad diff outer bearings.

Agreed. And that would cause your gear mesh to get tight and loose constantly flopping around.

The clicking I'm not sure about, usually main pinion/spur mesh doesn't cause clicking more of a grinding. Take your center apart and replace the bearings obviously as one is prolly bad, but also since replacing the bearings requires a full diff tear down, check all your spider/sun gears as this is primarily where clicking comes from.