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Bearings in a Diff??

I should say so.

Balls maybe on the input and output shafts, and may be rollers, which are still bearings.
The planetary gears run on bushes or bearings, usually roller bearings rather than balls.
Not forgetting the thrust bushes either.

However, bush wear will not generally give a whine, and as a general rule, ball bearings will rumble, rollers tend to whine more.

Never had an E60 diff apart before, and I hope I never have to!!

All the best with your $tealer, Meatzorb.

Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by pukka' post='528826' date='Feb 8 2008, 07:17 AM

Yep :cool: You? :whistle:

Yep. See AlwynMike's post. I too have never taken apart an E60's diff but I have worked on other differentials and I can tell you that there are bearings in a diff, although I am hardly an expert and I wouldn't want to work on one without supervision. Timken is a large supplier of roller bearings used in differentials. Differentials are more than spider gears and as an example the pinion rides on bearings. Need more see here ...

http://www.autopartsworld.com/bmw_differen...aring_part.html

http://www.differentials.com/install.html

I guess I'm reading too much into what makes up the differential assy vice just the diff.

Next beer is on me :D

Does anyone know if the limited slip comes from an LSD or the DSC?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pukka' post='528824' date='Feb 8 2008, 06:57 AM

Thanks for clarifying that. Now everyone knows (including me) what the ENTIRE ASSEMBLY or HOUSING looks like on an E60.

I've never dissected a BMW rear diff assy before, but I have done it on Ford's and Chevy's. I'll bet when you open it up the DIFFERENTIAL inside will look something like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_...nical_device%29

or this:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential4.htm

I've never seen any bearings here.

Free beer for everyone :D

Hmmm.... pinion bearing on a Ford differential...

http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/0604cl_f...d/photo_06.html

And here's a differential from the same ford rear differential with lots of bearings.

http://images.classictrucks.com/tech/0605c...ch_rearend+.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by pukka' post='528859' date='Feb 8 2008, 09:46 AM

I guess I'm reading too much into what makes up the differential assy vice just the diff.

Next beer is on me :D

I'lll buy the next round. ^_^

Quote:

Originally Posted by pukka' post='528824' date='Feb 8 2008, 03:57 AM

No worries Pukka - we're all family here! Whoo hoo for BEER!!!

Looking at those diagrams, always keep in mind that all 3 shafts - input and wheel - require bearings, as relying on a shaft alone to support itself would introduce fatigue and metal-on-metal friction. Each bearing needs a seal, a potential point for fluid loss. There are so many bearings on a car (wheel, input shaft, carrier, camshaft, crankshaft, piston, steering pump, A/ compressor, etc...) , sometimes I lose my bearing :-) The problems come when the seals shrink - either due to grease contamination, age, chemical damage, rubber seal hardening, etc. Damaged bearings can introduce friction and lateral play. The syncronization of gears under load can be affected by even relatively minute shaft variations of only a few millimeters. Throttle-enduced rear-end whines can be caused by high-frequency harmonics pronounced when the input shaft is rotating at high RPMs under power and load with bearing play. Low differential fluid levels have also been known to cause such noises, especially on LSD's (BMW stopped putting LSD's on non-M cars a few years ago. Kill-joys lol). The dreaded grinding noises occur when bearings fail, or gears are out-of-sync. Good luck - I'm hoping it's something benign.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingpuck' post='528575' date='Feb 7 2008, 05:03 PM

Perhaps some Beano would help?? :lol:

That's a whine not a rumble sir. :lol:

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT' post='528630' date='Feb 7 2008, 07:16 PM

I have had the same whine in my 04 since I got it - that was with 4000 miles on it as a CPO. It now has 40,000 miles on it. The whine has gotten no worse. If your whine is the same one I have, it is very slight - you really have to listen for it- and I only hear it when I am at constant speed. If I let off the gas it goes away and if I step on the gas a little harder, it goes away. It is only very slight when I hold constant speed on the freeway and everything in the car is very quite - no radio, etc.

I have thought about mentioning it when I have the car seviced but I have alway forgotten. I may try to remember to mention it while the car isstill under warranty just to make sure, but it is very very slight. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and welcome to the forum.

I think that is it exactly, I'll be in for oil service real soon and I will add to the service order. We will see. thanks

I have the same sound. Let us know what the dealer says.