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1988 Kia Sportage Repair Question


Topics covered: Differential, Low mileage, Noise.
Mileage: 200,000 miles.

Asked on December 22, 2011

Rear differential needs work

Rear differential started making a small noise and now it is really bad. It doesn't look like anything is broken as far as I can see from the filler hole, could it be just some of the bearings and what do you think would be the cost if so?
Avatar Asked by td craig

Answer

Replied on December 22, 2011

Are you sure its not the wheel bearing?Without knowing exactly what it is i cant give you estimate.

Tiny Answered by saturntech9 (expert)
23,200 answers provided
Replied on December 22, 2011

MIGHT BE BETTER OFF DOIN' THE SALVAGE YARD ROUTE

THAT IS, IF IT IS THE DIFF

IF POSSIBLE LOOK FOR A TAG ON THE UNIT AND COPY THE INFO

IF YOU HAVE ANY SAY IN IT, LOOK FOR A LOW MILEAGE RIG (IF SPEEDO IS GONE, LOOK FOR NICE PAINT, NO PEDAL WEAR, ANY OTHER WELL USED FEATURES SHOWING LITTLE WEAR) BUT WRECKED ON THE FRONT END

REBUILDING A DIFF CORRECTLY IS A DYING ART, MOST SLING 'EM TOGETHER WITHOUT CRITICAL USE OF CHARTS,SHIMMING, AND PRECISE MEASURING...LONGEVITY LACKS---'SPECIALLY SINCE CARS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE DISPOSABLE......A SWAP MAY BE YOUR CHEAPER ROUTE

I RECENTLY FOUND A REAR END FOR MY MOM AND DAD'S '86 THUNDERBIRD---IT WAS $150 THRU A COMPUTER LINKED AUTO SALVAGE YARD SYSTEM. TOOK MY BUDDY AND I 5 HOURS TO DRAIN AND REFILL THE DIFF, THEN INSTALL IT, THEN SWAP OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEMS ON BOTH SIDES.

ACCORDING TO THE YARD THAT HAD IT, THE CAR IT CAME OFF OF WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD WHEN IT WAS WRECKED AND BROUGHT INTO THEIR YARD, AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CRUSHED THE NEXT WEEK

KEEP US UPDATED

THE MEDIC

Tiny Answered by CJ MEDEVAC (expert)
6,805 answers provided
Replied on December 22, 2011

If the differential is with Limited Slip, forget about repairing it. Getting a used unit from the junk yard would be a better choice.

Tiny Answered by KHLow2008 (expert)
39,979 answers provided