Small gouge on D35 spider gear causing my problems ?

I have a small gouge on one of the spider gear teeth in my D35c .

Could this cause a loud humming/drone that I have been experiencing ?

The sound doesn't change when I turn .

Also ... are the C-clips supposed to have a groove on them ? it is like some thing was rubbing and wore the groove in them . Should I replace them ??

Thanks.

No, a gouged spider gear will not make a noise like you describe. Even at highway speeds while traveling a straight line the spider gears do not move relative to one another, so no noise is possible. Clunking etc. in tight turns would be what you'd notice.

However, if there's a chunk of metal missing from ANY component in the diff, it had to go somewhere. Where? Through a bearing? Through the ring and pinion, damaging those parts and causing your noise?