Worn Axle Splines? Clunk on braking

Hey chaps...

Starting a new thread instead of carrying on from the thread by Pollyrocket.

I've just started noticing a single clunking noise when I brake whilst the car's rolling. I had a feel around with the handbrake on and it felt like the bumping was in the front diff... But having read pollyrocket's thread I thought I'd better make sure my calipers were ok

Well I've just done so and my calipers are in top condition. So I took the handbrake off (chocked the wheels and prayed to God, don't yell at me they're my toes, I'll crush them if I want ) and spun the hub back and forth without the wheel on. There is about an inch of play in the diff, so I can move it about an inch forward before the driveshaft starts spinning, then about an inch back again... And that clunking noise happens each time the driveshaft starts moving..


In short... I think the splines (that's the right word right? ) are worn in my front diff. Do you think that would cause a clunking on braking? And if it is, is that something I need to worry about? Or is it the sort of thing I can get away with leaving for a month or two. Going to Le Mans in June and don't want to spend too much money on repairs before or (especially) during that trip. or is it the sort of thing that makes you think "my God, you're lucky to be alive!"

She's a K reg 93 disco v8, but I shouldn't think that makes any difference

Cheers guys,

Tubes

have you tried feeling play in diff flange,should be no end float at all,removing caps of front hubs and checking wear in drive member

jamesmartin said:

have you tried feeling play in diff flange,should be no end float at all,removing caps of front hubs and checking wear in drive member

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Nah all I've done is spun that one wheel while watching the driveshaft. It could be the output flange I guess... If i had been clever I would have spun the other wheel to make sure it was the diff/flange that was at fault. Can't check the specifics until 18th May though (which is when I finish the stressful business of Uni finally, so I'll have time then). Do you think it's a "terminal" problem though (i.e. shouldn't drive with that problem)?

dont have enough info could just be loose pad ,you should be able to feel it if in the drive train

jamesmartin said:

dont have enough info could just be loose pad ,you should be able to feel it if in the drive train

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Nah the clunking's definitely in the diff, the calipers and pads are fine as far as I could see. I'll get underneath and try feeling the driveshaft for play tomorrow

props you mean ?,id change oils in diffs /t/box ,gear box ,etc before trip allways check for metallic sheen etc ,there is allways some play in diffs

jamesmartin said:

props you mean ?,id change oils in diffs /t/box ,gear box ,etc before trip allways check for metallic sheen etc ,there is allways some play in diffs

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Yes that's what I mean. She just passed her MOT a couple weeks ago which makes me suspect that whatever it is is either creeping up to bite me hard and fast, or it's something that's always been there which I'm just noticing now, or is just getting steadily worse but not bad enough to be of any worry

mot doesnt mean a lot ,no clunk when setting off or gear changes ,all bushes/bolts tight ,ive had worn brackets were bolt goes through ,wasted bush bolts etc and even an apple in a defender under seat box

jamesmartin said:

mot doesnt mean a lot ,no clunk when setting off or gear changes ,all bushes/bolts tight ,ive had worn brackets were bolt goes through ,wasted bush bolts etc and even an apple in a defender under seat box

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Haven't noticed any clunking in setting off... Will check more carefully tomorrow. I do remember ocassionally noticing a clunking feeling when I put her in gear. Will check the bushes and bolts. Definitely not an apple haha, partly because I'm a fat student who don't eat so good, and secondly because I've taken the wheel off and spun it and heard the noise

If you can, with the handbrake on get someone to rock the car while you look underneath, sounds like it could be the a frame balljoint.

Really ? An apple ? Did you eat it ?

shocker said:

Really ? An apple ? Did you eat it ?

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no ,i built an axle for safari equip ,he rang up with a knock on braking ,decided he come over from bradford (not a short distance),took me for a test drive and i noticed something peculiar with the noise ,it was an apple in the tool box rolling under braking

ChrisW70 said:

If you can, with the handbrake on get someone to rock the car while you look underneath, sounds like it could be the a frame balljoint.

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Just had a look, the a frame balljoint's fine. Definitely a clunking noise when the propshaft catches in the front diff though. I'm pretty sure that's what it is. But will check everything suggested tomorrow

Cheers for the suggestion

jamesmartin said:

dont have enough info could just be loose pad ,you should be able to feel it if in the drive train

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Okay, so I got this completely wrong. The pads are in fact loose... So any recommended fixes? Both the retaining pins are in, and the pads are pretty new. Is it just a case of tightening up the bolts on the callipers?

Tubes63 said:

Okay, so I got this completely wrong. The pads are in fact loose... So any recommended fixes? Both the retaining pins are in, and the pads are pretty new. Is it just a case of tightening up the bolts on the callipers?

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no nothing you can do apart from fit different pads or stronger springs between them

jamesmartin said:

no nothing you can do apart from fit different pads or stronger springs between them

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Okay cool, the springs looked a little worn, I'll see if I can't get some new ones. Cheers

Springs did nothing. Do you think it's worth changing the pads? They're pretty much brand new, and I bought them from my local "Land Rover Specialist" so I assume they're the right type. Though it does appear like they have too much room to move forward and back. So do you think the pads might be too small?

I've had an issue with pads being loose on the rear calipers where the pad has dropped through and rests on the hub of the brake disk scoring a groove around the disk hub.
The calipers had a groove worn in them where the pad usually sits allowing them to be loose.
I've heard of some people putting a bead of weld on the pad to stop it falling through. I replaced the calipers for new units, didn't like the thought of bodging something like the brakes.

Hmm might consider getting new calipers, I quite like shiny parts even if they aren't necessary

But I was wondering if maybe the pads the garage put on last time might have been the wrong ones? It seems like they are too short for the caliper so just slip forward and back by about 50mm.

Tried replacing the springs that hold em in but made no difference. I thinks I might buy some newuns and see how that goes. It's just a question of lifting the old ones out and sticking that copper gunk on the back side of the new pads before putting them in, right?

Tubes63 said:

Hmm might consider getting new calipers, I quite like shiny parts even if they aren't necessary

But I was wondering if maybe the pads the garage put on last time might have been the wrong ones? It seems like they are too short for the caliper so just slip forward and back by about 50mm.

Tried replacing the springs that hold em in but made no difference. I thinks I might buy some newuns and see how that goes. It's just a question of lifting the old ones out and sticking that copper gunk on the back side of the new pads before putting them in, right?

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50mm ? if you want i dont bother