So this spring I started to notice what I can only describe as gear chatter after down shifting. It goes into gear fine, but when I come off the throttle, it sounds like gears rattling like they did in old trucks before helical cut gears. It does this in all the lower gears, and probably 5th but not as loud. I'm thinking the diff, since it happens in all the gears and I've heard about pinion bearing pre-load causing whines when downshifting. I did pull the diff fill plug, and the oil has some fine metal in it, but nothing large. Tomorrow, I'll pull the pan and have a closer look at the bearings and gears.

Diff has gear oil with friction modifier and its out of a 95 mustang GT limited slip. About 70,000 miles on last oil change and 170,000 total.

Engine is 5.0 with 5 speed tranny from same 95 Mustang.

Has anyone had any experience with a similar noise under similar conditions?

Thanks,