Had a whining noise coming from my MY06 2.7 for a while now. I have changed my front wheel bearings, noise still there, changed front diff oil, noise still there and now changed my my rear diff oil noise seems worse.

When I changed the rear diff oil, this is what came out and was just wondering if this seemed normal and any help would be appreciated!

Stick a magnet in there and see if it picks all the particles up. If it does then it is from the gears in the diff.

Jim

Not too clear in the pictures but think you have a partial view of the magnetic drain plug with a few fine metal particles stuck to it right?

Based on the very limited experience of draining both my diffs: the front diff oil was very black and similar particles on the plug to yours - turned out the diff was FUBAR and was replaced. The rear diff oil was brown with again similar particles on drain plug but appears to be OK.

There is a VIN range within which the diffs have a known problem and fail prematurely. If you search the forum there was a post where someone quoted the VIN range it is around MYs 06 to 07 so you may be in it? 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Tried the magnet Jim, it did pick some particles up but not many. When you pick them up with your fingers they feel very coarse, but when you rub them together they just turn to black dust which makes me think its the paint in the diff delaminating. I also checked my VIN Paddi but it didnt come under that recall. I had it in to landrover few months ago for the brake recall and had a technician came out on a drive with me, he said he can hear a faint whine but couldnt really diagnose if it was the diff.

One of the difficulties with diff diagnosis seems to be related to the way they fail. Its not the diff gear itself that fails it is typically the pinion bearings so you don't hear a 'typical' diff whine noise.
How does the whine manifest itself?
Is the noise there on over run or on power or just constant?
Is it speed related?
Is it there in all gears?
Is it there if you slip into neutral?
Is it there in low range?
Does it get louder when cornering?
Could it be a rear wheel bearing?
Have you checked the transfer box oil for level and condition?
Has the gearbox fluid ever been changed? 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Hi Paddi, yes it does it in all the things you listed. I did think about rear wheel bearing but there is no play in them. Taking it in to transmission specialist this week so i'll let you know how i get on.