Diff rebuild or Second Handy

[JoergM]

Gosh, it looks like you are facing the same issue as I do. I have to take out my front differential as well.
Wanted to do a simple oil and gasket change, took off the cover, just to find out that it had a leak and started to rust on the differential, the bearings.

The entire weekend I was shifting between taking it out or just remove the visible rust and let it be, but then decided in the end to take it out. I could see some rust inside the case as well as dirt at the axle shaft and I am worried that I am pushing it into the differential once I put the axle back.

I watched some youtube videos and some poster did use a pry bar but did not really look appealing to me. i also did not want to damage anything so I decided to get a slide hammer to get it out.

I am hoping to get away with heating up the case and put the differential over night into the fridge and then just use physics and some magic to get it back in.

[JeanLuke]

Hmmmm. I have a fridge/freezer in the garage. Not a bad idea. I'm sure the wife won't object if I use it for a weekend.

[Grippy]

You will have to give it a few.love taps to get it back in, not too hard of a job though

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[JoergM]

One question though: is it better to disconnect the drive shaft or does this not really matter?

The threads from the carrier and the drive shaft have to match back together and i realized it might be better if the drive shaft is disconnected since it moves easier though sliding in might be easier as well.

[Grippy]

Yep driveshaft needs to come out, it's a 10 minute job, otherwise you can't crack the pinion nut. Put the biggest pipe wrench you can find around the pinion flange to hold it while you crack the nut.

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[skipperau]

Originally Posted by JoergM

One question though: is it better to disconnect the drive shaft or does this not really matter?

The threads from the carrier and the drive shaft have to match back together and i realized it might be better if the drive shaft is disconnected since it moves easier though sliding in might be easier as well.

Disconnect it, before you do so mark it’s alignment with a paint pen by putting a line from one bolt, across the two halves of the yoke to make it easier to put it back together the same way.



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[JoergM]

Good point Doug. I realized that the differential is very sensitive in terms of alignment and putting things back exactly the way it supposed to be.