MX-5 OC Forum

A 54,000 mile service Diff Assembly oil change revealed 2 metal 'tags' (see photo). Has anyone taken a diff assembly to bits and/or might be able to suggest what they might be or be the remains of?

http://s954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/ni-smith/

No idea how long they've been in there but there's no excessive noise from the assembly and all seems fine on driving.

The garage have suggested replacing the whole assembly - mega ouch! 

Any ideas?

Nige + Iz

 look like part of a clutch plate

not good

They are 2 of the tags of the side washers from the limited slip part of the diff. I've seen them come out with the diff oil a few times. I'd just keep driving it until the diff gives up. It'll probably go on for ever!

Thanks Robbie,

We've looked at various 'exploded' diagrams of the diff assembly but failed to see what the 'bits' might be.

We'd decided to carry on driving since the 'bits' may have been in there for ages with no apparent ill effects.

Your being able to id the tags and your advice makes us feel a lot happier with that decision!

Thanks,

Nige + Iz Smith

The washers are inside the diff cage which apparently can't be disassembled so are not available separately. Therefore they are not shown on the parts catalogue.

 Done a bit more research and found some pics on a Dodge site (!) of a dismantled diff and the 'bit's look like the tabs on the clutch plates! Presume if tabs have sheared off then the clutch plates will just be spinning?.

Your diff doesn't have clutch plates like those in the photo. The plates in your diff fit between the sun gears and the diff cage. There are 4 tags per side.

Mine is one of the ones Robbie has seen where a similar piece of metal came out on the magnetic drain plug when the diff oil was changed. He gave me the same advice :-) That was about 18 months and 12k miles ago and I haven't had any sign of further problems.

We have had the same frightening appearance of these self same bits when the diff oil was changed.

Ours also shows no signs of noise or worrying sounds from the diff, so I guess we will just roll-on

The MX-5 has done some 36500 miles.

Martin & Wendy

 Well we've done 6k since, coming up to 57k miles with no difference in handling, noise

Rolling on,

Iz

???

Guys this topic is getting a good airing here  http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/19726.aspx  .

So I'll lock this one down