Newbie to the forum looking for some help. I have a dragging , grinding noise coming from my 03 Ozark in the differential case. I am thinking this is a bearing I looked at a parts schematic and it shows 3 bearings. How tough of a job am I looking at ?
Any help appreciated,
Lattman

 

Did you recently change out the fluid in the diff? The last time I changed the fluid, it made the kind of noise you are describing, but it went away very quickly after about 100 feet of riding.

 

Actually it started doing it before I changed the fluid. I believe it called for 6 0z of 80-90 SAE

 

Did it have more than the normal metal shavings in it?

 

No just the usual tiny bit of shavings. I'm now starting to wonder if it isn't the left rear wheel bearing ? It doesn't grind or clank constantly only at times and maybe even more so when I make turns or go in reverse. I took out today for a couple of laps and didn't hear anything then stopped it and backed up and it started, it then continued for a bit and then stopped again. It is so hard to pinpoint where it is coming from when I'm on it, so I jacked it up and ran it with the rear in the air and it seemed to be coming from the left rear and moreso the case itself but maybe the sound is just traveling the axle ? It's just a bit tricky to pinpoint with the sound not being constant.
Any ideas ?

 

Well, there is a bearing betweent he axle and the diff case. It is possible that this bearing is going out.

 

How about brake pads or something hung up in the rotor? Brake pads only last me about one season.

 

The stock brake in the rear is a single drum brake on the Ozark.


I'm in the same boat as you. My front brakes lasted one season as well, but I ride in a lot of sandy and muddy areas.

 

I had the exact same thing happening with my Z250 (same rear-end as the Ozark). I replaced all 3 bearings. It was a pain to do. I don't remember exactly what gave me a problem because I did it a year ago, but it wasn't a walk in the park. The main thing was I thought it was something that wouldn't be that time consuming, but I had to removed the axle and disassemble it just to get to the bearings.