If my car is up on a lift, with my hands on a rear wheel, I can turn the wheel approximately 3-8 degrees before I can feel the diff. catch and the opposite wheel turn the opposite direction.

I also notice that while driving at an acceleration of 0, if I let up, or demand power from my throttle, there is a slight hesitation, and then a snap. It "feels" like the Engine mounts are bad, but I am pretty sure that there is something going on in my Diff. The more I do the previous action with the mindset that it's my differential, it seems that there is a big gap, or "slack" somewhere in the gears back there.

Is this a problem that anyone else has?
Is this normal?
Do I have a crapped out Diff.?

 

never heard of differential slack.

It sounds like you just have a regular open differential (what model is your car, then look it up to see if it has lsd)

also, in your second paragraph is just sounds like you're just not in your power band when you get on it.

I seriously doubt your have differential problems.

 

It does NOT have a LSD. It should not matter whether I am in my power band or not, if I hear and feel a snap behind my. I'm not saying that i'm in 4th gear and cruising @ 30 mph, and then I just slam it to Full Throttle. I AM saying that if I am cruising at that throttle position where pressure is equalized before and after the throttle plates, ANY SLIGHT change neg. or pos. creates a jerk/buck/not so good sound/feel coming directly from my differential.

And given my previous post about being able to turn my wheel my hand with no resistance tile about 3-8 degrees of rotation is what concerns me.

 

You could always pop the diffy cover off, drain the fluid and give it a look. It might be time for a rebuild or a new diffy. Just be careful cos that differential fluid stinks like ****.

 

^ yea I think I'd at LEAST change the fluid anyways, with as old as our cars are it certainly wont do any harm.

 

check the diff mounts.


when you guys have diff problems you will know it either but a growling or high pitched whining noise from the rear end or a noticable lack of movement of the vehicle...

backlash in the side gears and ring and pinion is normal(felt by spinning the wheels or pinion yoke)

 

So the problem must be either with:
a) engine mounts
b) transmission mounts
c) differential mounts

????

 

ive got the same problem. i want to crack it open but im waiting on funds to buy a junyard replacement so i can still get to work and stuff. my guess is that it needs a rebuild. and its not the mounts that are bad either

 

Keep in mind, these cars are getting up there in years and milage in many cases. I have had more than one vehicle that needed a new ring and pinion. One had 300,000 miles and the other over 400,000. Add to that the fluid was probably never changed. I replaced the ring and pinion in one of these vehicles. There was a .020 ridge worn into the ring gear. Needless to say I had some clunking that wasn't from U-joints.