dropped my differential...literally!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
dropped my differential...literally!
Finally got everthing disconnected. Had two jacks under the differential. The problem was that the front, where the u-joint is, was catching when I tried to lower it. Had a neighbor come over to balance the crossmember while I lowered it. I had to pull it back away from the car to get clear the ujoint. When I pulled, she let loose of the jack and fell off to one side. Only fell about a foot and landed on the crossmember and front bracket. No damage, but what a pain in the a$$. Nothing like the thud a differential makes when hitting the garage floor. I was suprised my wife never came outside. Anyway on to the next project.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Originally Posted by gtr1999
That's why I switched over to using a tranny sissor jack, makes it much, much easier to remove and install. What are you planning on doing to it?
Gary
Gary
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Originally Posted by carguy4sure
Suggestion....next time or when you are installing it leave the spring on. Install or remove as an assembly. Makes it much easier to balance it...have a jack on each end of the spring.
Very good idea. Gary's idea about the scissor jack is also a good one. Using a floor jack is tough because its hard to keep it balanced while moving the jack around. At least I had the diff lowered so the fall was not very far.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,188
Likes: 4,010
From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by Frankenvette
Very good idea. Gary's idea about the scissor jack is also a good one. Using a floor jack is tough because its hard to keep it balanced while moving the jack around. At least I had the diff lowered so the fall was not very far.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Nice pic. The diff looks really clean unlike mine. I wonder if I could rent a scissor jack for reinstallation. I priced one at Harbor Freight yesterday and they wanted about $75.00. After all I have spent in the last month... nearly $1,000 I'm getting kind of cheap.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,188
Likes: 4,010
From: Connecticut, USA
That one is one of the diff's I rebuilt last summer. I think the jack was about $60 last year but they always have things on sale. The prices are different in every catalog I get, all for the same items 
Gary
Gary
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I have a 3 ton floor jack and the lift point is removable. I bent up a tray and welded a large bolt to the bottom. I put the tray on the jack with the bolt through the hole and a large washer and nut tightened down to hold the tray.
By making one also for the transmission the jack becomes very usefull for other things then just jacking up the car.
By making one also for the transmission the jack becomes very usefull for other things then just jacking up the car.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,381
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
I have a 3 ton floor jack and the lift point is removable. I bent up a tray and welded a large bolt to the bottom. I put the tray on the jack with the bolt through the hole and a large washer and nut tightened down to hold the tray.
By making one also for the transmission the jack becomes very usefull for other things then just jacking up the car.
By making one also for the transmission the jack becomes very usefull for other things then just jacking up the car.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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You guys are wimps 
I removed my diff by myself last week..i crawled under the car, removed the bolts and lowered it on my chest.. good excersice 
oh..it's aluminum..that saves a bit (I dropped an iron diff on my hand once..well actually someone else did..and it was heavy LOL )
I removed my diff by myself last week..i crawled under the car, removed the bolts and lowered it on my chest.. good excersice oh..it's aluminum..that saves a bit (I dropped an iron diff on my hand once..well actually someone else did..and it was heavy LOL )
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
You guys are wimps I removed my diff by myself last week..i crawled under the car, removed the bolts and lowered it on my chest.. good excersice oh..it's aluminum..that saves a bit (I dropped an iron diff on my hand once..well actually someone else did..and it was heavy LOL )
I removed my diff by myself last week..i crawled under the car, removed the bolts and lowered it on my chest.. good excersice oh..it's aluminum..that saves a bit (I dropped an iron diff on my hand once..well actually someone else did..and it was heavy LOL )
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
I removed and installed mine in december myself and only used a floor jack and had no problems doing it myself. Was able to lower it down and roll it out without ever touching the differential,must be the size of the cup on the floor jack.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,508
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From: Wisconsin
I've had mine in and out a couple of times (never with the crossmember due to the coilovers and different crossmember) and have had no problems balancing it on just a regular floor jack. I have a four inch chunk of 6x6 that I put on the jack and that helps even it out.