Symptom: Loud scratching noise which increases in frequency with speed. When I accelerate the noise will decrease, when speed is constant its audible and when i'm off the gas and coasting its also audible. This is textbook case of the axle nut not being torqued down tight enough. Honda spec has been known to be around 85ft/lbs, TSB stated the nut should be torqued to ~95 ftlbs or something and s2ki reccomends torque to 105+ ftlbs. In addition to the below I have re-tightened the axle nut to 125 ft lbs. I cant feel any play in the wheel bearing..

I jacked up the car and had somebody else started the car to spin the wheels with the throttle while i looked underneath. My affected rear wheel has a WOBBLE to it while the unaffected side spins straight. I couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary. The differential would shake VIOLENTLY sometimes during this, as if something was binding? I have axle spacers so I re-tightened the hardware with a little loctite. Previously i found them loose but tightening them up didnt fix the problem. I noticed my upper rear driver diff rubber mount is sliced/cracked, but i'm not sure if this can explain the shaking i noticed. After tightening the axle nut and re-tightening the axle spacer hardware I will see if the sound goes away tomorrow on my commute, but i doubt it. We'll see..


Does anybody have any suggestions?
I'm guessing something is wrong with my rear diff or wheel bearing is trashed (although cant feel any play!).
Am I looking at replacing the diff?

 

actually the torque specs for the axle nut should be 220 ft/lb...but this sounds like a diff on its way out.

 

diff! great chance to get gears and a stronger diff (:

 

What is the usual indicator that the differential is fubard?
My problem is somewhat intermittant...

 

try changing your diff oil to see if you have any chunks of metal in it.

 

Remove the nut, grease the face of it (not the threads...wd-40 on the threads if the nut does not turn smoothly), and torque it to 220.

If your races have shifted, 125 ft lbs is not enough to put them back in place. Proper torque will likely cure it all.

 

Good advice. Races that arent seated completely will explain my wheel wobble.