Grinding noise in DIF on 2001 3.2 DiD Manual

WillieLeeu · Mon May 02, 2011 8:58 am

When turning whilst pulling away, there is a grinding noise in the dif. It occurs after travelling long distances and only while turning on pullaway. After a day or so of less travelling the noise subsides. I get the impression that it could be the spider gears, and seeing that Mitsubishi sell those as a repair kit, It seems that it could be just that.

I intend removing the dif, opening and inspecting it, replace the spider gears and all bearings (and what else are damaged inside). Any thoughts or pointers in this regard would be helpful.

Thanks
Willem

4ePikanini · Mon May 02, 2011 9:30 am

have you tried a different oil. Seems like the oil is maybe not up to the job when it gets hot.

WillieLeeu · Mon May 02, 2011 2:40 pm

Maybe worth trying before I take all the trouble of removing the whole dif contents. What is the best oil to use?

Willem

JohanV · Mon May 02, 2011 9:00 pm

i dont know whats the best. but i replaced it with SAE80w90 (As per owners manual) 10000km back.

WillieLeeu · Tue May 03, 2011 3:03 pm

Thanks Johan, I am going to replace with that, and will report on the outcome.

Willem

llec999 · Mon May 09, 2011 10:12 pm

Any updates? I also have strange clacking noises coming from somewhere. I am interested in any updates or info on diff repairs/oils/etc

4ePikanini · Mon May 09, 2011 11:16 pm

llec999 wrote:Any updates? I also have strange clacking noises coming from somewhere. I am interested in any updates or info on diff repairs/oils/etc

Differentials don't "clack" they whine or fail catastrophically. You probably have a faulty bush or stabilizer link.

AltenWahl · Tue May 10, 2011 10:46 am

I also had a grinding noise at the front diff. It only happend in 4x2 and not in 4x4. Was the 'suction valvles' (not sure what they are called) causing the front diff not to be released properly in 4x2 mode. The noise on mine was there when coming to a dead stop though.

tsblack · Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:26 am

Hi Willem

Has the exact same problem. The dealers quoted me R20k to strip and check the diff. For me it turned out to be the diff oil. My Pajero only did it after some long high speed travel and then mostly when I was turning, although sometimes when just pulling away after some high speed long distance travel.

When I replaced the oil it definitely looked a lot less viscous that it should be, although there were no obvious traces of water in it. That was 10,000km ago and the noise is 98% gone. I can still feel a very slight version of what I felt before, but I'm going to drain and fill the diff oil again as I'm assuming I didn't manage to get everything out last time and it will take a few fills to get rid of all of the bad stuff that was in there.

-Thomas

WillieLeeu · Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:49 pm

Well, I have drained the oil in the dif and replaced it with oil purchased from Mitsubishi. Since then I have done a trip to Lesotho (2500km). I can say the grinding noise is almost non-existant, but there is a bearing that is noisy (I think in the dif). The bearing noise is through all the speed range, and does not vary when accelerating, or decelerating, so I presume the bearing on the sideshaft end (in the dif). Now for dismantling it and replacing bearings.

Will post again after it is done.

Willem