Backlash in the Transaxle?

[DoctorDex]

Originally Posted by Bret Brinkmann

Bearings usually make a whinning sound when they start to go out. Some times they can make a slight grinding sound as you are describing.

Since installing the solid motor mounts I have an awful lot of gear whine. Does this count?

Originally Posted by Bret Brinkmann

If you drain your gear oil look for flakes of metal on the magnet and metal powder through out the fluid. Those are signs of bearing failure.

When I have drained my fluid the magnet is usually coated with some metal powder and a few small flakes. I take it this is abnormal?

[Bret Brinkmann]

Originally Posted by DoctorDex

Since installing the solid motor mounts I have an awful lot of gear whine. Does this count?

When I have drained my fluid the magnet is usually coated with some metal powder and a few small flakes. I take it this is abnormal?

I have been in cars with solid mounts before, you notice more noise but the sound increase is barely noticable to the average passenger. A pitted bearing is deffinately noticable even to a passenger that has no idea about how cars work. Metal powder on the plug is due to normal wear. Even a few small flakes are nothing to be concerned about. If you can change you fluid every 3000 miles, clean the magnet, and still get big flakes on it after another 3000 miles, then something has excessive wear.

First off, I have a few questions for you. What fluid are you using? When you had the end cover off, did you happen to notice if individual rollers in the bearings looked smooth or rough? What about the outer races? Does the sound occur while coasting, accelerating, and decelerating?