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Differential removal

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Old May 7, 2008 | 12:08 AM
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Default Differential removal

I am trying to remove the differential from my 77 and I am having difficulty with the half shaft U joints. I can get all the nuts off except for one on both of the half shafts. The last nut is in an inaccessible position. I cant turn the half shaft even though the auto trans is in neutral. The tire will only move an inch and then it stops. I cannot start the car since the engine is disassembled and ready for removal.

Any suggestions for how I can move the half shafts or should I just try to remove the driveshaft?
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Old May 7, 2008 | 12:14 AM
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Sounds like the you have u-joint bind in the half shafts. Raise trailing arms (both) to reduce the angle of the half shafts as they come out the differential. Then you should be able to turn everything.
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Old May 7, 2008 | 04:25 AM
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Trick I learned off of the Van Steel video was to put a 9/16 socket under the trailing arm inside of the frame pocket, this might help you line up those half shafts if they're binding on you.
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Old May 7, 2008 | 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by AKruizer
Trick I learned off of the Van Steel video was to put a 9/16 socket under the trailing arm inside of the frame pocket, this might help you line up those half shafts if they're binding on you.
Sounds like a easy way to raise and hold the trailing arms. I will try that tonight and see if that allows me to move the half shafts. Thanks for the advice.
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Old May 7, 2008 | 09:24 AM
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Default Move car with differential removed

I just thought of something that might cause me a problem.

I am removing my differential because I just got a deal on a rebuilt 3.73 and I need to send my 3.08 as a core. I already had my engine disconnected and ready to be pulled before this deal on the diff came up. My original plan was to lower the car onto heavy duty auto dollies so I could position the car for removal of the engine. I intended to take the engine out first so I would have an opportunity to clean and detail the engine bay.

If I have the differential removed and I lower the car onto the dollies will this cause a problem. I do not want to install the new diff until I remove the engine but I need to send the old diff back as a core.
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Old May 7, 2008 | 10:01 AM
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If you are talking about lowering it onto the rear wheels, you cannot do that. The half shafts are part of the suspension that holds the rear wheels in place.
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Old May 7, 2008 | 02:47 PM
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What he said. Why can't you simply set the frame on jackstands?
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Old May 7, 2008 | 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 73, Dark Blue 454
What he said. Why can't you simply set the frame on jackstands?
The car is on jackstands right now. I need to be able to move the car so I can position it for removing the engine. I was planning on setting the wheels down on automobile dollies so I could move the car. The deal with the diff just came up, so now I need to remove my old diff to send back as a core.

Does this mean that I will have to install the new diff to the old half shafts before I can set the car down on the dollies? I wanted to remove the engine first so I would have time to clean the engine bay. I did not want to get involved with the suspension work until the engine was removed.
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Old May 7, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by myc3
The car is on jackstands right now. I need to be able to move the car so I can position it for removing the engine. I was planning on setting the wheels down on automobile dollies so I could move the car. The deal with the diff just came up, so now I need to remove my old diff to send back as a core.

Does this mean that I will have to install the new diff to the old half shafts before I can set the car down on the dollies? I wanted to remove the engine first so I would have time to clean the engine bay. I did not want to get involved with the suspension work until the engine was removed.
I believe so. The rear spring holds the trailing arms down...and the rear spring is mounted to the differential cover, which is mounted to the differential housing. I suggest you do the differential and suspension work first rather than trying to rig something up to hold up the rear tires.
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