early mx5 diff lash

[dylan0451]

hi there, i've had a spongy drivetrain now for a while, under overrun there's a lot of clatter from, i assume the diff. It makes it hard to rev match on down shifts, and and and feels like i have a drive shaft made from rubber! So anyway, i contact a local mazda garage, ask them if they have the facility to adjust the lash in the diff and they tell me that in all their years they've never seen a worn diff, ever. Regardless of use, apparently mazda diff's are made of some space age material that remains impervious to wear. Hmm... It did get me thinking though, maybe it's just 'normal' but i'm pretty sure not! Anyway, would engine and diff mounts worn/destroyed still be able to cause that amount of movement ?!

[tr7v8]

Dead Diffs generally whine if you have clatter it sounds like a propshaft or CV joint to me.

[dylan0451]

will check half shaft cv's. doesn't seem to be any play in the driveshaft UJ's - i assumed the clatter was the bouncing of the face + back of the teeth of the pinion + ring gear, hence looking at getting it adjusted.
i guess you don't get the telltale clicking from the cv's like you do on a steering axle

[HCVBP]

dylan0451 said:

hi there, i've had a spongy drivetrain now for a while, under overrun there's a lot of clatter from, i assume the diff. It makes it hard to rev match on down shifts, and and and feels like i have a drive shaft made from rubber! So anyway, i contact a local mazda garage, ask them if they have the facility to adjust the lash in the diff and they tell me that in all their years they've never seen a worn diff, ever. Regardless of use, apparently mazda diff's are made of some space age material that remains impervious to wear. Hmm... It did get me thinking though, maybe it's just 'normal' but i'm pretty sure not! Anyway, would engine and diff mounts worn/destroyed still be able to cause that amount of movement ?!

I feel the same problem in my 2003 Miata 1.8 NB2.5 Sport.

Anyone know what could be the origin of this issue?

[Camaro]

As the Mazda dealer says, once set and broken in, a diff doesn't 'wear' to the point that it increases backlash. The gears are very very hard!

Do you have a limited slip diff?

Fwiw, check all the driveshaft joints and UJs, my guessing is one of these is worn.

For the record a diff will more than likely whine, or grumble when knackered, this is from either shot bearings or broken teeth.