axle slop...is this normal?

[Mori]

I had a new noise develop in the rear end of my S14 after a track day. I traced it to where the axle enters the differential on the driver's side. The passenger's side doesn't have any slop. I have a Kaaz 1.5 way LSD with fresh Motal fluid. How serious is this? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Here are a couple links to videos showing the play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7opqwvZ31M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMkUFs3s0Zo

[Def]

Check the backlash on your ring gear. Not sure why you wouldn't see it on the other side, but that looks like quite a bit.

Also check your rear axle nut torque.

[Mori]

Thanks for the help. I'll get a 36mm socket and a bigger torque wrench to check the axle nut.

I don't know how to check backlash with a dial. Does this video reveal anything? The car is in first but I have one of it in neutral I can load if it makes a difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A908DECY04

[Matt93SE]

Mine has about that much on my VLSD as well. been going for 130k+ miles. the HLSD I just assembled is a bit tighter and doesn't clunk, and has about 1/2 that play.

That's all I can contribute here.

[CodyAce]

wouldn't even worry about that play, heck you should see the play in some things. totally normal.

[Def]

I agree its probably not much to be concerned about, but your backlash is probably on the very upper limit or a bit over. Dial indicators are cheap if you are still worried and want to check it.

[Mori]

OK, that's good to hear. A friend thinks he has a 36mm socket to loan me so I'll check the axle nut to be sure it's tight. Thanks

[hai1206vn]

Looks like a bad CV joint to me, assuming the rear wheels were stationary. If it were excessive diff backlash, the axles would not turn until the pinion has mated with the ring gear.

[Def]

He's turning the output shafts, so they'll move UNTIL the ring gear hits the pinion gear.

[Mori]

I checked the torque on the axle nut and it was good. Started looking at the driver's side half shaft a little closer and realized that the driver's side is a lot dirtier than the passenger's side. Also, the driver's side half shaft can be wiggled up and down just slightly whereas the passenger's side is solid.

DRIVER"S SIDE:


PASSENGER'S SIDE:

[CodyAce]

The axles click into the differential itself...they're not really reliant upon any bearing as the side bearings hold the differential unit up (as in, if the side bearings were shot, you'd really know, as it wouldn't mesh correctly. Disconnect the axles, and see if the stub shafts come out easily...if they don't, I'd say your totally fine. The 'dirty' on one side could be from anything really...pinion seal slightly weeping, side seal on the diff weeping...if you had a severe leak it would honestly be coated everywhere, and not be that fine mist/dust/dirt stuff (which happens to the best of them).

In the grand scheme, differential's are super tough units, across the board. I'll double check mine tonight and try to take some video for you just to help

[McCoy]

Both of mine are somewhat loose in the differential, opposite of the HLSD setup (breaker bar to get them out)

The car puts down the power just fine on track so I'm not worried.

[hai1206vn]

He's turning the output shafts, so they'll move UNTIL the ring gear hits the pinion gear.

Then it's backlash, which I feel is over the limit based on how loud it is. Was the backlash checked after LSD install?

Backlash may also increase if the side bearings are under-preloaded.