Differential?

First post, so please be patient!

My wife has a 2002 Corolla CE that has a noise problem.
She took it to mechanic who told her it may be a bearing in the differential, or the housing was bad.
This sounds funny to me.
I'm pretty handy with cars (I go wheelin' in my Jeep Wrangler, so I have to be!)

Questions:
1. Is the trans and differential 2 separate pieces?
2. What bearings are included in the differential?
3. Could the mechanic be talking about the CV joint?

I'd love to here what this community has to say. Thanks.
Dan

You'll have to be more specific on the type of noise, where it sounds to be coming from, and when it happens. There's lots of things down there that can make noise, so the more specific you can be the better.

As I recall, the transaxle and differential for your car are housed as a single unit and share the same fluid supply.

There are bearings for the output shafts on either side of the differential, but unless the tranny has been run with low fluid, this isn't a likely source of noise.

Yes, there is a possibility that the noise is from a CV joint. If it is a clicking sound that occurs when turning then it's probably a CV joint. If it is a low, loud noise like road noise (such as if a door isn't completely shut) but pulsating coinciding with the wheel's revolution and coming from the footwell, it could be a worn wheel bearing.

the differential is what makes both cvs turn.as it is where the cv axles pop into . mine had a roaring noise in it and i was told the differential was making the noise. it turned out to be a wheel bearing. if yours makes a roaring noise that gets louder as you speed up then check the wheel bearings. jack up each side and shake the tires. try with hands at 3 0'clock and 9 o'clock then at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions . the wheel bearing is a double row bearing[ two bearings in one ] i believe i gave $ 30.00 for the ones in my yota not near as high as a nissan.when you buy the wheel bearing get new seals inner and outer. mine was tough to get out as the race didn't want to budge but a bigger hammer and punch changed its mind.the outer race on my bearings was about 2 1/4 " wide or might have been 2 1/2" ,pretty wide race.when you tap the bearing out tap one side the go to the opposite side then alternate till the race is out.as you don't want to bind it by getting it cockeyed . good luck.

Thanks for the info.
Concerning the noise:
When driving on the freeway it comes when beginning to accelerate and then when coasting - a kind of clunk, not a whine.

I've jacked up the front end and put it on jackstands. When I grab the axle on the left (drivers side), it's solid. When I grab the axle on the right, it's loose at the trans side. Hard to tell if the inner CV joint is the problem or if it's the connection to the trans.
I'm thinking I can remove the axle and check the splines on the axle for wear or maybe the splines on the inside of the trans. This is the point where I'd have to actually see.
Wish there was more rom underneath :)
What do you think?

Typically on the longer axle side there's an inner shaft where a three-sided u-joint-like end of the inner CV joint slips into the differential. I'm guessing the bearings on the ends of that yoke have failed.

could be the inner cv joint worn out but if it wobbles in the differential then the bearing is worn out.just have to pull the cv out and see what it is.if toyota hasn't changed the right side is the pulling side and it catches all the strain. also if anything breaks on the right side your stuck. i had a hub break on the right side and i was just there. the left side didn't pull.

Typically on the longer axle side there's an inner shaft where a three-sided u-joint-like end of the inner CV joint slips into the differential. I'm guessing the bearings on the ends of that yoke have failed.
What I'm wondering is if the wear is on the axle side or inside the trans.
I would just replace the axle complete, I saw a new one on line for less than $100. But I don't want to do this if there is a problem inside the trans and the axle is OK.

I could remove the axle and see it, but I'd hate to pull it just to see and then put it back.

your gonna have to pull the cv out of the differential to see what is wrong with it. you can get cv axles for $80.00 at autozone ,orielly's, and most other parts stores. if you buy online then you have to figure in shipping for the cv and it could be $25.00. i put both cv axles in my '92 and didn't loose a drop of trans fluid. one other thing if the axle moves where it goes into the differential then i would think the problem is inside the differential. but if the slack is in the inner joint of the cv then its in the cv . not much space between them. i still think your gonna have to pop the cv axle out to see what the problem is.

i would go ahead and pull half shaft and check out that bearing. on your spline going in to tranny may have shavings on it from the bearing.