Just about have the exhaust off the car. Just one pesky old rusty bolt left. I've never dealt with IRS before and I just want to swap out the center section here so is there a particular order to taking this apart? Thanks!

 

Hi you can remove the torsion beam from transmission and remove the tail shaft, then you can unbolt the spring from carrier to access the diff bolts. You need to remove the spare wheel and spare wheel carrier for better access.

I recently removed my diff from disc to disc to replace the diff gasket,
i did not want to risk getting years of built up dirt getting into the diff.

Note you will need a friend or trolley jack to lower and raise the diff/carrier assembly.

Is fairly easy, i unbolted the calliper brackets and held the callipers with some coathanger wire to keep tension of the hoses.
Remove the hand brake cable, depending on year and remove a bolt from the sway bar links on each side.

Then unbolted the control arms (dog bones) that attach to the car,
once that is done unbolt the two carrier bolts and remove the whole rear from the car.

Take it to pressure clean it, depending on how much grime it should look like new. Otherwise get some degreaser and repeat.

While the rear end is out replace all the half shaft universal joints, they are cheap and do not last long it is very easy when the whole rear end is out from under the car.
Check the tailshaft /driveshaft universals, i say replace them and be done with it and you will not have any further problems.


Installation is straight forward attach the carrier to car with 2 bolts, attach the "dog bones" you will need a pry bar to fit the top ones.
The sway bar brackets are great for that.

 

If your just going to remove and swap the diff center section.

1) C Beam
2) Driveshaft
3) Rear spring (2 outer bolts at suspension upright first then 4 center bolts on batwing) if you have the soft ride spring your going to need a jack to lower the outer part of the spring
4) Inner U Joint straps (just remove)
5) Inner camber arm brackets (2 bolts on each side that hold camber arm bracket to diff centersection) leave the camber arm in the bracket and don't touch the single center bolt - that way you don't mess up the alignment
6) Rear tie rods - Remove tie rod end from the suspension upright first and 3 bolts on the batwing second
7) Once the camber arm brackets and tie rods are off the diff, the camber arms can be swung down and the suspension upright can be pushed outward to remove the inner u joint/halfshaft from the rear end yolk
8) Batwing (2 big bolts that hold batwing to frame) be sure to put a jack under it to support and lower when you remove the bolts.

Reverse assemble.
Will

 

Thanks guys..thats what I needed.