Sierra rear diff swarf

[West17]

Hi all,

I posted this in the Ford forum but thought I'd stick in on here also, given the diff is fitted to a kitcar.

Just wondering how much swarf is normal and when to start worrying! I removed the fill plug from my diff and found that the magnet was well crusted with swarf. The plug was replaced due to damaged hex drive and a new one fitted. I also pumped out the old oil and refilled with new 80w/90 GL5 oil. Just checked the level after a few miles and noted the new plug was again crusted with swarf. This time it looks pretty shiney stuff - I wondered about bearing running surface?

I guess the oil change could have flushed out more swarf and with the oil being clean the stuff looks shiney anyway - given it is not covered by the old dirty oil.

But grateful for others experience of these diffs - is a large amount of swarf normal - or is this the early warning of a diff about to let go. The diff does not appear particularly noisey and I'm not getting a huge amount of float.

Many thanks

[downsman]

If it is quiet and there isn't excessive backlash, I would be inclined to keep driving.
I had a new re-manufactured Ford type diff in my car and after 500 miles the oil was full of metallic particles.
The manufacturer said it was fine

I have heard of people who've had a quiet diff, had it taken apart and it has been noisy.........

[gtmdriver]

Fine metal particles, like dust, seem to accumulate in most diffs.

The time to worry is when shiny gear chippings start to appear.