diff swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
diff swap
I have a 97 a-4 coupe, with of course 2.73s. I'm looking at a diff from a 98 6 spd car. 3.42s Question, is it a big job to swap them out? I don't have a hoist. are the rear diffs pretty much bullet proof or are there any issues I should be worried about? Cracked housing, bad bearings, etc. It came from a stock car. Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 2
From: St. Louis Mo
I have a 97 a-4 coupe, with of course 2.73s. I'm looking at a diff from a 98 6 spd car. 3.42s Question, is it a big job to swap them out? I don't have a hoist. are the rear diffs pretty much bullet proof or are there any issues I should be worried about? Cracked housing, bad bearings, etc. It came from a stock car. Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
Its not that big a job but you will need a tranny jack and a good set of stands. If you are not careful you could damage some engine components when the drive train is lowered slightly to slide the rear end off the shaft past the trunk well. Do a search. There are a lot of posts on doing it with pics.
Here's a couple of links.
http://www.cajundude.com/differential5.htm
http://redshift.homestead.com/Drivetrain1.html
You will have to drop the rear cradle and support the trans while its out.
Could take about a day to do it with some help in your garage. I had a shop do mine, it took about 3-4 hours with a lift and they charged me about $250. That included labor, fluids and a retune for changing the gears and shift points.
There could be problems with a used rear end that you won't discover until its in. How many miles on it? I bought a stock Z06 3:42 rear new from a forum vendor a few years back for a little over a grand and no core charge. The Z06 unit is pretty stout put tougher rear ends than it have been blown up.
Its a good mod for an A4 and you should consider doing it. It will really wake up the car - especially going from a 2:73 rear. I had 3:15 gears and the difference was still very noticeable.
Good luck.
Here's a couple of links.
http://www.cajundude.com/differential5.htm
http://redshift.homestead.com/Drivetrain1.html
You will have to drop the rear cradle and support the trans while its out.
Could take about a day to do it with some help in your garage. I had a shop do mine, it took about 3-4 hours with a lift and they charged me about $250. That included labor, fluids and a retune for changing the gears and shift points.
There could be problems with a used rear end that you won't discover until its in. How many miles on it? I bought a stock Z06 3:42 rear new from a forum vendor a few years back for a little over a grand and no core charge. The Z06 unit is pretty stout put tougher rear ends than it have been blown up.
Its a good mod for an A4 and you should consider doing it. It will really wake up the car - especially going from a 2:73 rear. I had 3:15 gears and the difference was still very noticeable.
Good luck.
Last edited by EStreeter; Mar 18, 2009 at 02:38 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 657
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From: michigan
http://www.corvette-web-central.com/...ferential.html Try this link it has some good info. Check out the tags at the bottom also there might be more info out there.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I have a 97 a-4 coupe, with of course 2.73s. I'm looking at a diff from a 98 6 spd car. 3.42s Question, is it a big job to swap them out? I don't have a hoist. are the rear diffs pretty much bullet proof or are there any issues I should be worried about? Cracked housing, bad bearings, etc. It came from a stock car. Thanks
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