Rear pinion bearing?

Hello all

Getting a slight grumble from what I expect to be the rear pinion bearing (small audible sound under load, goes silent soon as you lift off or decelerate).

I'll be taking it to TES Transmissions for a second opinion this week, but just so I've a ballpark, has anyone replaced theirs and if so could you give an idea of cost/whether the bearing could be replaced in situ or whether the whole diff needs to be removed.

Thanks
Owen
 
There are two bearings for the pinion gear and neither of them can be changed out with the diff still in the car.
If you have to drop the diff anyway you might as well replace all bearings and seals at the same time, they don't cost that much.
 
Yeah I'm considering whether now is possibly a good opportunity to replace the 3.46 with a 3.64.

From my research on here you wouldn't want to go beyond 3.64 for road use, and also that the type 188k diff on the 3.0si coupe is also used on the 3.0i X3.

Would anyone be able to confirm whether this is the case?

RealOEM has my E86 diff part number as 7564160
I've seen an X3 diff with part number 7523668

Can anyone confirm if the X3 diff might fit?

Owen
 
Right well it seems I've been overly anal about this :rofl:

The director of TES Transmissions took it out for a drive this lunchtime and has confirmed there's nothing wrong with the diff, no pinion bearing noise, everything tight and quiet as it should be with no vibrations.

He said the noise I can hear sounds really light, so it's probably something really minor like a dust shield or bash plate having been knocked.

Will get it up on a ramp and have a closer look this week. Drama over!

Owen
 
Mystery answered! Just the brake dust shield lightly contacting disc. :rofl:

On the plus side, I feel like I've just saved a wad of money.

Owen
 
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