Porch40

Am getting ready to replace the seal on the differential cover. Could someone describe the steps for removing the frame cross member and the cover ? It looks like the differential is partially supported by the crossmember so would I have to support it before removal ..??

Thanks for your help!!

Kenny Bonnell

I just removed my differential from my 73, it's not a bad job at all. The hardest part is getting the crossmember to drop from the frame. I took my spring off, the drive shaft and half shafts, then loosened the crossmember bolts, leaving them in a few threads. One side of mine came loose using a pry bar, the other side I used a gear puller and clamped it onto the crossmember and pushed against the bolt holding that side in, leave a floor jack or some other means of supporting the rear end in place so it doesn't come loose and crash to the floor. It's really not too bad of a job. Then you can take the differential loose from the crossmember. It's also a good time to replace the pinion seal and axle seals.

SwedeAWACS

After I loosened the bolts on the cross member, I made sure they were still in 3-4 turns so that once the cross member popped loose, the bolts would still hold it up. I went to Auto Zone and they loan tools. I borrowed a 2-3 jaw gear puller and set it up in the 2 x jaw configuration. (Harbor freight also sells these for about $6)

I put the jaws on each side of the cross member and the center bolt pin directly on the bolt holding the cross member. Couple turns and it popped loose.

I had spent nearly an hour trying with a crow bar and then tried the gear puller. Go with the gear puller, you'll be done in a matter of minutes.

Drop the Diff and the crossmember together, be sure to use a floor jack and be ready to balance it as you let it down slowly

Good luck

Swede

68sbShark

Did the 2-jaw puller thing last weekend. Worked like a charm. Had the crossmember out in a matter of minutes.

~Rich

Porch40

Thanks for the help!!