Help Changing differential assembly
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Marblehead, Mass, 2003 Corvette Convertible Black/Black/Black
Help Changing differential assembly
Hello
I would like to change my rear axle ratio from 2.73 to 3.15. I have located a 3.15 diff assembly.I have look in the GM service manual there are 25 pages for this procedure. I have also looked into the archives for hints for installation. There seems to be some confusion. Is this a DIY job? Do I have to remove the whole drive line?. Can the drive line be dropped and the diff assembly removed? Does the rear cross member assy have to be removed? Or can it be dropped with the drive line? I do have a lift, air tools and a transmission jack. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank In advance
Paul
I would like to change my rear axle ratio from 2.73 to 3.15. I have located a 3.15 diff assembly.I have look in the GM service manual there are 25 pages for this procedure. I have also looked into the archives for hints for installation. There seems to be some confusion. Is this a DIY job? Do I have to remove the whole drive line?. Can the drive line be dropped and the diff assembly removed? Does the rear cross member assy have to be removed? Or can it be dropped with the drive line? I do have a lift, air tools and a transmission jack. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank In advance
Paul
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 21
From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Help Changing differential assembly (BLACK86)
If you have a lift and a trans jack,it aint that bad of a job...The drive tube and trans dont have to come out.Remove the mufflers (unbolt sway bar so mufflers will swing out) and H pipe.Unbolt the calipers and parking brake cables from the knuckle and disconnect the speed sensors.Remove the axle nuts,disconnect the upper ball joint and tie rods and swing the knuckle out of the way to remove the axle shafts.Unbolt the shocks at the top and you are ready to remove the rear crossmember with spring and knuckles attatched (4 bolts and 2 bolts at the differential mount,also remove the clips on the crossmember that retain the brake lines and sensor harnesses)...Remove the 50 or so bolts that retain the tunnel close out panel and remove it...With the trans jack,lower the complete assembly so that the top of the differential is in line with the bottom trunk hump (there is a warning lable on the torque tube with a diagram,if you go to far you will damage the firewall)...The output shaft on the trans that goes into the diff is about 2 feet long,and this is why you have to lower the assembly enough so that the diff will clear the trunk hump when removed...It is best if you have 2 jacks,1 to support the trans,as you lower the crossmember with another,but if not,2 people can lower the crossmember (not as heavy as it looks)...Good luck...
[Modified by C-5 TECH, 4:45 PM 1/12/2002]
[Modified by C-5 TECH, 4:45 PM 1/12/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 179
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Re: Help Changing differential assembly (C-5 TECH)
Great timing. I just finished my A4 change from 3.15 to 3.42. Crappy weather... have yet to drive it any serious distance to give a report yet. But Corvette Fever Magazine did an indepth How-To on this procedure. I used this article when changing the carrier on my Corvette. Below is a link:
www.corvettefever.com/editorial/article.jsp?id=18978
www.corvettefever.com/editorial/article.jsp?id=18978
