Differential Install
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 80
From: Florida, Tampa Bay
Differential Install
I purchased a differential with 4:10s from a fellow forum member and will be installing this weekend. I've looked over the clutch install that Dope put up and it looks like a PIA but doable. My question is can I leave the tunnel plate, torque tube, clutch and tranny in place and remove the cradle, half shafts, brakes and differential while holding up the tranny and clutch with a jack? Thanks for the tips as usual!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
No, you can't - I just finished a rear carrier swap on my A4 - but the shaft that comes out the rear of the tranny and goes into the rear carrier is about 12 inches long - there isn't enough room to slide the rear carrier back and off of this shaft UNLESS you lower the tranny and torque tube assembly down; HOWEVER, it ISN'T that bad of a job, and if you start Friday night, you should be done by Sunday night.
Here is a link: http://www.cajundude.com/differential.htm
Go to that link, print off EVERYTHING and follow it RELIGIOUSLY!!!! Cajundude makes it simple, trust me, I followed his advice exactly and it worked.
One thing to add to Cajundude's write up, is that there are TWO (2) tabs/do-hicky's that hold the brake lines to the cradle on EACH side. They are tough to see, but you need to get the brake lines out from under these.
Again, Follow CAJUNDUDE's instructions EXACTLY, and it is EASY!!!
Good luck!!
Here is a link: http://www.cajundude.com/differential.htm
Go to that link, print off EVERYTHING and follow it RELIGIOUSLY!!!! Cajundude makes it simple, trust me, I followed his advice exactly and it worked.
One thing to add to Cajundude's write up, is that there are TWO (2) tabs/do-hicky's that hold the brake lines to the cradle on EACH side. They are tough to see, but you need to get the brake lines out from under these.
Again, Follow CAJUNDUDE's instructions EXACTLY, and it is EASY!!!
Good luck!!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I just put 4.10s in my car. You will have to
Jack up the car level on jackstand/blocks atleast 18" high
Take the rear wheels off
Take the rear calipers off and hang them aside
Undo the top bolts on rear shocks
Take the bolts off the upper control arms
Undo the Ebrake brackets
Pul out the half shafts
Take the catback off
Take the exhaust midsection off
Take the tunnel plate off (no going around this. This needs to be taken off but you dont have to disconnect the torque tube)
Undo the bolts on the cradle while supporting it with a bike jack
Put a jack underneath the tranny to support it
Take the ABS lines off the cradle and lower the cradle down
Separte the rearend from the transmission
I think that about it
Goodluck
Jack up the car level on jackstand/blocks atleast 18" high
Take the rear wheels off
Take the rear calipers off and hang them aside
Undo the top bolts on rear shocks
Take the bolts off the upper control arms
Undo the Ebrake brackets
Pul out the half shafts
Take the catback off
Take the exhaust midsection off
Take the tunnel plate off (no going around this. This needs to be taken off but you dont have to disconnect the torque tube)
Undo the bolts on the cradle while supporting it with a bike jack
Put a jack underneath the tranny to support it
Take the ABS lines off the cradle and lower the cradle down
Separte the rearend from the transmission
I think that about it
Goodluck
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
I put my 3.90 diff in my FRC a couple weeks ago. You’re going to have to drop the tunnel cover to allow the drive line to tilt down far enough to get the diff off the tranny output shaft. Don’t forget to take the shifter **** and boot off. Loosen the air bridge clamp. I hung the calipers on big zip ties.
Low Gears Rock!!!
Low Gears Rock!!!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Originally Posted by FactoryRaceCar
I just put 4.10s in my car. You will have to
Undo the top bolts on rear shocks
Undo the Ebrake brackets
Take the exhaust midsection off
Take the ABS lines off the cradle and lower the cradle down
Goodluck
Undo the top bolts on rear shocks
Undo the Ebrake brackets
Take the exhaust midsection off
Take the ABS lines off the cradle and lower the cradle down
Goodluck
leave the shocks on the car - disconnect the bottom
un-hook the ebrake cable and unclip
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by Roadrace65
I put my 3.90 diff in my FRC a couple weeks ago. You’re going to have to drop the tunnel cover to allow the drive line to tilt down far enough to get the diff off the tranny output shaft. Don’t forget to take the shifter **** and boot off. Loosen the air bridge clamp. I hung the calipers on big zip ties.
Low Gears Rock!!!
Low Gears Rock!!!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,622
Likes: 0
From: Savannah Georgia
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Originally Posted by Roadrace65
I put my 3.90 diff in my FRC a couple weeks ago. You’re going to have to drop the tunnel cover to allow the drive line to tilt down far enough to get the diff off the tranny output shaft. Don’t forget to take the shifter **** and boot off. Loosen the air bridge clamp. I hung the calipers on big zip ties.
Low Gears Rock!!!
Low Gears Rock!!!
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Actually you can do it without removing everything. You just need to lower the tranny until the torque tube is about 1/4 inch away from the tunnel plate. Remove "I think the left side of the diff. Rotate the removed side up and slide it on. Done it plenty of times. Kaley
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 5
From: Fredericksburg VA
Looking at those jackstands makes my back ache... 
Love my AAMCO twin post lift.
And heed that pic MIke Mercury posted. you WILL hit the firewall and crack it or the intake if you don't put a jack *(use a piece of wood between the jack and the pan) under the oil pan.
I've had my drivetrain out about oh, six or seven times now... Get an alignment after you put it all back together. Your centerline in the rear will likely be off and the car won't track properly.
Don't ask how I know...
Mike
Love my AAMCO twin post lift. And heed that pic MIke Mercury posted. you WILL hit the firewall and crack it or the intake if you don't put a jack *(use a piece of wood between the jack and the pan) under the oil pan.
I've had my drivetrain out about oh, six or seven times now... Get an alignment after you put it all back together. Your centerline in the rear will likely be off and the car won't track properly.
Don't ask how I know...
Mike
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Did you get my post? By leaving the exhaust and the tunnel plate on it will take a few hours off of your instal time. If you need any help with the explaination you can give me a call. 970 567 2713. Kaley
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Originally Posted by Kaley@DragonRace
Actually you can do it without removing everything. You just need to lower the tranny until the torque tube is about 1/4 inch away from the tunnel plate. Remove "I think the left side of the diff. Rotate the removed side up and slide it on. Done it plenty of times. Kaley
I can see taking the side cover off for removal, but don’t like the idea of handling a new diff open to contamination at installation….JMO
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Murrieta Ca..... America, fun while it lasted
Originally Posted by Kaley@DragonRace
Did you get my post? By leaving the exhaust and the tunnel plate on it will take a few hours off of your instal time. If you need any help with the explaination you can give me a call. 970 567 2713. Kaley
It takes you a few hours to remove the exhaust and tunnel plate......... there this new thing called air tools.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 80
From: Florida, Tampa Bay
Thanks for all the advice and tips. I had to take off my exhaust anyway for a couple of leak repairs so I went ahead and pulled the tunnel plate. I spent a couple hours cleaning the cradle and tranny before I put the new differential in and still ended up at about 8 hours. Not to bad for my first time and the best part was I didn't have to wait for break in cause the gears I picked up already had a couple thousand miles on em. It's a blast to drive and I'll be needing some street slicks soon especially for first and second to go with the perma-grin!