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Rebuiling / changing the Diff in a live axle


Morls

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I have a longer diff to fit in my ital axle and although fairly mechanically competant, I think the shimming and general condition assesment may be a job for a more experienced person than me.

 

So...

 

a) Is it all basic common sense and lump hammers? Will brute force and ignorance be enough?

 

or

 

b) Who can the panel reccomend for such a task (for reasonable fees and sub-one month turnaround).

 

Oh..Using Land's End Transmissions Ltd. may be a little impractical bearing in mind my northern locationsmile.gif

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Mark

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To do the job properly you will need a few special tools and a dial gauge so that you can set the pre-load and backlash correctly.

 

I have a workshop manual with the relevant chapter I could e-mail at the weekend.

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Chris,

 

If it's a Marina / Ital Manual some pictures would be much appreciated, Cheers thumbsup.gif.

 

Anthony,

 

"Lots of very precise measurement"... Oh... sad.gif Is there not a method that relies on a variety of hammers, rather than precision question.gifsmile.gif.

 

Tony,

 

Thanks for the new un.thumbsup.gif

 

I've undone all the bolts but now need a slide hammer to pull the shafts out (about the only hammer I don't have smile.gif ), but I think the next, more technical bits, should perhaps be left to an expert.

 

 

 

Mark

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For a slide hammer use an old wheel fit it on the studs "inside out" use old nuts fitted loosely and use it as a slide hammer 2 or 3 sharp pulls outover should be enough to pull out the shafts.

I had my gearbox re built by a company in Yarm they did a good job for a reasonable price they rebuild diffs too.

 

Rae

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Rae,

 

Yarm sounds very handy. My office is in the smog so I'm often up that way.

 

I've looked in the Yellow Pages but couldn't find anything in Yarm, so...

 

Do you have a number or directions for these peoplequestion.gif

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Mark

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Mark

 

I have done exactly this!

 

If you are just changing the diff for another complete one, and not taking the crownwheel/pionion out of the diff, it is easy. Just remove the axle, take out the half shafts (you do not really need a slide hammer, I pulled mine out by hand and if they are stiff you can bolt a wheel on the end of the hub and gently tap the edges by hand. Once the half shafts are out, the diff pulls out of the axle in one unit including the nose and flange by undoing the ring of 1/2 inch bolts and lifting it! The new one drops straigh in along with the nose etc and push the half shafts back in! nb..drain the oil out first, it stinks and when the diff comes out of the case it will go everywhere!

 

If you are doing as I did, getting a spare diff to use the crownwheel/pinion only, then it is a specialist job to dismantle the diff itself (I say diff as opposed the axle which includes the case/hubs etc) and rebuild the new one. You should dissmantle the old axle as described above and remove the diff from it, easier to transport and saves time at the rebuilders.

 

Hope this helps.

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Robin,

 

Cheers, I'm still trying to get the hubs off the tapers and will be buying a puller for this bit shortly.

I've tried other methods but I don't suppose £15 for a usefull tool will make much of an impact on the overall spend.

 

So, in theory, any shimming and setting up of my new diff( longer CW & P bolted into a diff nose), can be done without the axle being given to the "expert", and I can just bolt it in afterwards with no "precision" stuff to doquestion.gif

 

If so, this sounds ideal.

 

 

Mark

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You will find the hubs are tough to pull of the shafts...even a normal puller may struggle. you only need to do this if the bearings are knackered. The bolt is done back up to 84lb ft...NOT the 200+ that the de dion drive shafts need!

 

Assuming that you are clear when I say that dismantling the diff (taking the gears apart, the pinion out etc.) requires specialist, and just changing one nose with intact gears not being disturbed, for another nose with gears intact (although longer ratio)...then it is just a case of a bit of silicone to seal it back up again!

 

Any problems, drop me an email.

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Mark,

 

Surely if it's a longer diff you're installing it won't fit in the casing!?! Can't you get one that is the right size??? wink.gif

 

Coooooooooooooose

 

P.S. We went to the Isle of Wight on the Beemer last weekend - I now know where Marinas go to die! Never seen so many in such a small space.....

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