Been getting a bit of gear noise lately in my 03 VR AWD so took it to the dealer for a service and to have the noise checked.

Turns out the centre diff may well be stuffed as they drained out about 250ml on what should be a 600ml fill. They are only guessing but they reckon the case hardening is shot on a bearing and that's what's making the noise. :cry:

So they quote me $3500 for a new part, plus fitting. :shock:

The car is out of warranty (by age) but only has 70,000kms on it.

There must be another way (other than chasing it through Mr Bushi which I will do but not holding my breath) :pray:

Anyone know if these things can be rebuilt?
Who? Where? How? How much?!


Thx
Adam

Out of curiousity, has your dif been serviced/touched before? Any idea how the fluid was drained to such a low level? And do you drive the car in an unreasonably hard manner? It appears to me very odd, that a dif with 70k would be mincemeat.

Out of curiousity, has your dif been serviced/touched before? Any idea how the fluid was drained to such a low level? And do you drive the car in an unreasonably hard manner? It appears to me very odd, that a dif with 70k would be mincemeat.
If the oil wasn't changed it's easily believable. The diffs are very fussy about what oils they run.

OP: Not sure on your questions. I know they aren't cheap tho. :(

Where abouts in QLD are you? There's a guy in Slacks Creek by the name of Neil Lowe. He's worked on EVOs for years in the rally teams, might be worth giving him a ring.

Neal Lowe Motorsports Pty Ltd
21 Brennan St
Slacks Creek, 4127
Brisbane
Contact: Neal Lowe
tel/fax: (07) 3808 3048
mob: 0419 727 623

There has been about three awd magnas which have ended up at the wreckers in the last month.
Try www.autoparts.com.au and see how you go

If the oil wasn't changed it's easily believable. The diffs are very fussy about what oils they run.


diff oils dont need to be changed often... 70,000kms and original diff oil is fine.. the concerning question is why your oil level was so low.. where did the oil go??

surely a diff specialist can do something for you?

diff oils dont need to be changed often... 70,000kms and original diff oil is fine.. the concerning question is why your oil level was so low.. where did the oil go??

surely a diff specialist can do something for you?
The problem is if the original OEM oil hasen't been changed. They generally come with "run in" oil which is very thin and overheats easily. This can cause damage to the diff.

The problem is if the original OEM oil hasen't been changed. They generally come with "run in" oil which is very thin and overheats easily. This can cause damage to the diff.

Umm - where did you hear that from??

Been getting a bit of gear noise lately in my 03 VR AWD so took it to the dealer for a service and to have the noise checked.

Turns out the centre diff may well be stuffed as they drained out about 250ml on what should be a 600ml fill. They are only guessing but they reckon the case hardening is shot on a bearing and that's what's making the noise. :cry:

So they quote me $3500 for a new part, plus fitting. :shock:

The car is out of warranty (by age) but only has 70,000kms on it.

There must be another way (other than chasing it through Mr Bushi which I will do but not holding my breath) :pray:

Anyone know if these things can be rebuilt?
Who? Where? How? How much?!


Thx
Adam

That sucks hey! Did you car have a complete service record? The awd drivetrain needs lubing every 40k km, if it got a log book service, it should have been done. Remember almost all AWD's are ex-rental or police (NSW & QLD). It may have had a hard life. Mine spent the first 25k km as a rental in VIC. If you have a record of those lubes being done, you can try and make a case for Mitsubishi to repair it

If the oil wasn't changed it's easily believable. The diffs are very fussy about what oils they run.

OP: Not sure on your questions. I know they aren't cheap tho. :(

Where abouts in QLD are you? There's a guy in Slacks Creek by the name of Neil Lowe. He's worked on EVOs for years in the rally teams, might be worth giving him a ring.

The centre diff is a viscous coupling. Is that a servicable part? I'd imagine thats why its so pricey.

give eddy wreckers a call in south australia you might be able to get a seconhand one through them

The problem is if the original OEM oil hasen't been changed. They generally come with "run in" oil which is very thin and overheats easily. This can cause damage to the diff.

hmmm.. if thats true its strange and stupid

hmmm.. if thats true its strange and stupid
I'm working on the assumption they're the same as EVOs (they have the same diffs as the EVO 6) I could be horribly wrong.

I'm working on the assumption they're the same as EVOs (they have the same diffs as the EVO 6) I could be horribly wrong.

Yes, you are!

Yes, you are!
Ok... So they have proper fluid in them from the start of their life and need to be serviced at how many km intervals?

I don't know the exact interval, but assuming it's the same as a normal diff, the fluid is good for 80 to 100 thousand k's. It's only used for lubrication so doesn't need to be changed very often at all, assuming there is no leak or dust etc getting in.

I don't know the exact interval, but assuming it's the same as a normal diff, the fluid is good for 80 to 100 thousand k's. It's only used for lubrication so doesn't need to be changed very often at all, assuming there is no leak or dust etc getting in.

exactly what i was thinking...

sometimes a normal diff will go for the life of a car without a oil change

Yep and I highly doubt the EVO's come with 'running in' diff fluid also as there is absolutely no reason for this.

Yep and I highly doubt the EVO's come with 'running in' diff fluid also as there is absolutely no reason for this.
From what I've read on the EVO forums they do. First thing the guys do when they buy a new EVO 9 is replace all the diff fluids. I've read a number of cases of people blowing up rear diffs because there's insufficient lubrication due to "running in" oil.

Ahh you read it on a forum......must be true.


















..........just joking dude.

They'd be 'blowing up' diff's cause of miss-use.

Bloody hell... :nuts: .

Don't tell me you changed yours :D

my diffs are fine and i was punnishing them, heaps of strai fron the 20's and the s/c

but autos are kind to diffs

the evo's being manual, the harder launches and drivline backlash, well i could kill the diffs in one of them pretty easy the way i have been known to drive...

there is nothing in the manual about the ctr diff and servicing


i'd call a trans expert, i spoke to a few ppl about my box and everyone knew less than me till i found one guy who actualy knew what a awd magna was and has a clue... keep searching around

$3500 is wayyy OTT

even though you have front and rear diffs, you still need the ctr diff (which int in the ctr lol) otherwise i'd have welded it up lol

Hey BLOODREDVRX -- just wondering, with your 'diff noise', was it a whining sound between 85-km/h to 95/kmh?

If that's the case, I get it in my 2004 TL AWD (first registered 2005 so I 'apparently' get the 5yr warranty.....ha let's see).......Anyhow, as has been suggested in this thread, my car is ex-fleet for 56000km......hmm......

I also get driveline vibration in the lower gears if you accelerate any more than gently.

I rang Zupps Mitsubishi (Brisbane), who took it for a drive and verified that there WAS a noise. They were willing to 'have a look at it' but I haven't had time to drop it in.

Just wondering if any other AWD owners experience this noise

was it a whining sound between 85-km/h to 95/kmh?


YES... i get this (at 80,000)... very minor...but wasnt there when i got it (at 60,000).

if running different tyres front to rear can cause diff problems.

the book says replace the oil in diff and center diff every 45000km the diffs dont hold a lot of oil.

i would get another workshop to have a listen.

My mates TW VRX AWD had a gear type noise from the transmission area. They replaced the transfer case under warranty but the noise was still there.
It turned out to be the centre bearing on the drive shaft to the rear diff.
It was also replaced under warranty - no more noise.

I'm pretty sure I read the rear diffs are a non servicable item. Guy on the EVO forums was quoted $5500 from Mitsubishi for a new one + fitting.

I'm pretty sure I read the rear diffs are a non servicable item. Guy on the EVO forums was quoted $5500 from Mitsubishi for a new one + fitting.

What evo model was that? I think thats just the case with the active yaw control units....not the standard type diffs used in the Magna.

Sorry to hear about the diff problem.

Try www.partslocator.com.au I was searching for some other Magna parts today and noticed that 2 AWD's are listed.
1 from 2004 and another from 2005.

You will need to register to get access to the wreckers details.

If you are stuck, then P.M. me and I'll get you the full details.

The other locator system in Australia is : www.autoparts.com.au here you have to post a request and then wait for a reply.

Hope that this helps.
Gerry

What evo model was that? I think thats just the case with the active yaw control units....not the standard type diffs used in the Magna.
EVO 6 GSR - so yeah, it's got AYC. :redface:

EVO 6 GSR - so yeah, it's got AYC. :redface:
Pretty sure american EVO's did not have AYC. I'd imagine they were the main market for the auto's, but I know they were sold in the UK too. Was AYC only on the GSR/RS models?