Rear Differential Question

[palmettoguy10]

Hi All,

Have a 2006 EZ GO TXT electric golf cart. About a week ago, hit something in the front yard that knocked a hole in the rear diff pan.

I purchased the new pan and put in the oil (Castorol SAE 30 motor oil) and put it back together. However, now when we drive it, there is some kind of knocking or clunking sound coming from the rear end - sounds like from the differential. I took out the drain plug (too much oil maybe?) and drained it so top was level with threads, still making the sound. Any ideas what it could be from? Wasn't doing this before?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

[jonnymoon5]

oil shouldn't give any problems. you possibly crushed a few teeth in your main gear.

[palmettoguy10]

Thanks for your response. This is my first time with getting into the mechanics of this .... was pretty proud that I did all this myself and then disappointed when it made the noise. So, should I take it back apart and check the actual gears? What would I be looking for and is there a fix for that or am I looking at a costly replacement of gears and such?

[Santacruzslick]

If you have to replace them may as well go for the high speed gears. Good excuse to upgrade. :-)

[madoc1]

when you drop the pan, rotate the gears and check all of them, including the spiders. if it only a chip out of the large ring gear you may get away with cleaning and reinstalling. it only takes 10 oz. of 30 wt. they also sell a skid plate for it. might be a good investment. sorry to hear this, and good luck. you might find a used gear set from someone who has gone to hi speed gears.

and welcome to BGW.

[palmettoguy10]

Y'all have been very helpful in helping me out and trying to figure out what is going on with this! I'm going to pull the cover and drain it again and check the gears and see if there is any damage there (I hope I know what I'm looking for) As I said, I'm new to the mechanical stuff.

If I do decide to get new gears - possibly upgrade - is this something I can do myself or is it recommended to take it to the shop? Also, what is the average cost for the parts? Looking on ebay - anywhere else you suggest I can buy online?

Thanks again to everyone! Maybe with all this new experience I can be the one helping some day lol

[Santacruzslick]

I did my high speed gears myself. It is not very difficult at all however a hydraulic press is almost required. I just took my parts over to my buddies and pressed them apart/back together and then returned home to install. If you are mechanically inclined at all you'll be able to figure it out. Gotta pull the rear end out, pull the axle shafts and disassemble the differential. Not horribly difficult if you know your way around a rear end(and no I did not mean for that to sound dirty haha)