[steckrca]

Yesterday I replaced my front diff. The old one was groaning and the pinion bearing had worn to the point that it would clunk every time on or off the gas, more noticeable at low speeds, i.e. stop and go traffic. I took a chance on a used diff with 73,000 miles, and now the noise is different and worse. The groan is louder and now I get a whine above about 20mph. YouTube video below. Did I just get a bum diff? Or did I eff something up in the process??

Before you tell me to use the search, I've looked tirelessly to find nothing that relates to my exact symptoms.

 

[steckrca]

So the plot thickens. Either I didn't tighten the axle nut all the way on the driver side, or I've got a bad wheel bearing already. Just pulled the wheel to see where a grinding noise is coming from, and found a ton of wobble in the hub. Can I get this back on track by just getting the axle nut tighter? Or do I need to get a new bearing?

 

[2005 Touareg]

That sounds like carrier bearings in the front differential to me. Did you ever figure it out?

Rob