Swapped the Diff. this weekend, PICS INSIDE!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 105
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From: Acworth Georgia
Swapped the Diff. this weekend, PICS INSIDE!
I'd like to thank Rick @ rkt56.com and Gene Culley @ gmpartshouse.com for all their help! Also, thanks to my boy James for allowing me to dirty up his garage in the process and thanks to all of you who contribute to this board everyday! 
Here's a link to the write-up I reviewed prior to undertaking this job:
http://www.cajundude.com/differential.htm <=== This link mysteriously stopped working overnight! I can't find an alternate.
...enough stalling, ON TO THE PICS!
If you're gonna do it, do it RIGHT!
2 hours in, easier than I thought it would be.
Out of the five nuts/bolts that secure the diff to the tranny, this one was missing! I believe the added flex on the driveline under load caused the pinion & bearing to fail prematurely. Leads me to believe that this rear had been rebuilt before by an IDIOT who thought it would be ok to just leave this out!
3 hours in, good riddance!
4 hours in, didn't have to drop the driveline as far as I thought. I pivoted the housing down and slightly to the right to clear the output shaft. Damaging the firewall was my biggest fear, which is why I was taking my sweet a$$ time during this stage.
All done!
Here's a link to the write-up I reviewed prior to undertaking this job:
http://www.cajundude.com/differential.htm <=== This link mysteriously stopped working overnight! I can't find an alternate.
...enough stalling, ON TO THE PICS!
If you're gonna do it, do it RIGHT!
2 hours in, easier than I thought it would be.
Out of the five nuts/bolts that secure the diff to the tranny, this one was missing! I believe the added flex on the driveline under load caused the pinion & bearing to fail prematurely. Leads me to believe that this rear had been rebuilt before by an IDIOT who thought it would be ok to just leave this out!
3 hours in, good riddance!
4 hours in, didn't have to drop the driveline as far as I thought. I pivoted the housing down and slightly to the right to clear the output shaft. Damaging the firewall was my biggest fear, which is why I was taking my sweet a$$ time during this stage.
All done!
Last edited by LawdoG247; Mar 27, 2012 at 10:47 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Staying here in the tech section is just fine.
Nice job by the way. Thanks for taking the time to snap pictures & explain how you did it.
Doesn't it feel good, doing things like this yourself.
No cost for labor but getting paid in knowledge of your car is priceless!
Keep up the good work.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Acworth Georgia
p.s. I edited the first post to include a link to the write-up I used as guidance.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Acworth Georgia
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 105
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From: Acworth Georgia
Notice the little rubber mount in the center of the cradle just above the 2x4? That is all that holds up the ENTIRE rear driveline! I placed a jack underneath the transmission with another 2x4 to support the driveline as I lowered the cradle. There is no crossmember that the transmission rests on.
...unless you're talking about why I changed the smaller jacks position after removing the cradle. I only had two jacks to work with so I took the cradle off the jack and used the small one to assist me in supporting the diff as I slid it off of the output shaft, and also to re-install the new unit.
Thank you, sir!
Last edited by LawdoG247; Mar 27, 2012 at 09:16 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 105
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From: Acworth Georgia
Here's a quick vid of what I'm talking about, you wouldn't be hitting the parts on your Vette this hard because they are forged aluminum but it is a good example. Also, this is a tie-rod end removal, but the same principal applies to ball joints:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...9Wa_1TYk7yhvTg
Hammering the surrounding housing causes the hole to flex and vibrate the tapered shaft out of the hole, EASY! People always fear removing ball joints & tie rod ends because they don't want to damage the boots.
Last edited by LawdoG247; Mar 27, 2012 at 07:00 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 793
Likes: 3
From: Scotland UK
Unless you're talking about why I changed the smaller jacks position after removing the cradle. I only had two jacks to work with so I took the cradle off the jack and used the small one to assist me in supporting the diff as I slid it off of the output shaft, and also to re-install the new unit.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 105
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From: Acworth Georgia
Ah, yea I don't have any pucks. That was the safest place I thought they should go while I lowered the driveline, as that's where the weight of the car rests normally on the cradle anyway!
Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: Acworth Georgia
Team Owner
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Thanks,Matt
