02 Civic 5 Speed <100k

I have done some basic tests and isolated the noise to the driver side diff. It is making a lot of noise all the time the diver side half shaft is turning. The passenger side is not affected.
Test method. Elevate front of vehicle. Remove the wheels. Start engine and put in any gear. Release the clutch. Isolate noise to driver side. Grab half shaft and stop rotation. Release and repeat on passenger side.
Results: Stopping the shaft does not stop the noise. This indicates that the half shaft is not the source of noise, nor is the rotor.
Using a poor mans stethoscope only the driver side is noisy.

Any ideas?
I'm hoping I don't need a reman or recycled tranny.

 

What complaint drove you to perform these tests? The wheels should always remain on the vehicle when performing this type of test. Everything (minus the load of the car) needs to match.

What exactly prevents you from blaming the ISB as the problem. If you are stuck at the differential and have eliminated all external sources of noise, what keeps you from moving up from the differential? Unless you have only one side gear severely damaged (highly unlikely without imprinting the other and the spiders), I doubt the differential is the problem given your information.

 

Does it make noise when clutch is in or when clutch is out?

 

What drove me to perform the test? Complaints from the boss, wife I mean. When driving it one heard a strange clicking sound that increased in frequency during acceleration.

Why the wheels were off, working on the brakes. Plus it was real easy to grab the half shafts to stop them. Took advantage of the wheels being off. I really expected to find a lose CV joint. With or with out the wheels, the problem persists.

Of course the half shafts only spin when the clutch is engaged and only then is the problem presented. I am confident it is not the bearing for the input shaft or throwout bearing.

Looking at the service manual, I am leaning toward the bearing on the driver side of the Diff. From experience, it does not take much bearing damage to make a lot of noise or roughness.

 

I don't disagree with that statement. The only reason I asked is because people start hunting problems from different roots, I wanted to know where yours started from.

You will experience some level of noise when powering from a raised state, either from brake drag or vibration. I would isolate or identify if you can any other external sources of noise first. If you do this, then remove the transaxle and inspect the side gears. Sounds like you have a damaged one or a loose one.