Replacing LSD

[skylerwaite]

Can someone walk me through this? Preferably with pictures.

[Erick]

1-) Undo the 4 17mm nuts on the driveshaft flange
2-) Loosen the two 13mm bolts in the CSB.
3-) Undo the 12 10mm Allen/Hex bolts on the half shafts
4-) Undo the 19mm Nut/Bolt on the Differential Bushing.
5-) Place jack on diff. TIP: slightly raise the car by the diff at this point (but make sure to keep jackstands aligned.
6-) Undo all the remaining 19mm (4 total) bolts on top of the diff, holding it to the subframe.
7-) Remove the CSB bolts in step #2.
8 -) Lower differential from jack, carefully so it does not fall over.
9-) Slide it backwards to clear the driveshaft flange.

Voila. That's half way done. The rest is the reverse of that.

- Erick

[skylerwaite]

Haha, awesome. Thanks.

[Erick]

Oh, and the exhaust might have to come off on it. I've done it so many times on my current "exhaust" setup, that I keep forgetting the stock exhaust might get in the way of the driver's half shaft.

If anything, just add "remove cat back section of the exhaust" as step #1. And as a note, I suggest changing the gaskets there while you're at it.

I've done this way too many times already.... :p

Another tip: Ratchet-wrenches are your most bestest (emphasizing here) friend on this. It will literally save you a solid half hour of just wrenching

More tips because I'm friendly and the whole KO system is currently down, so I guess I'll take my secondary job as the e30 enthusiast helper:

Have either a huge prybar or a friend. Even the most useless friend will do. Hell get your G/F to make her feel useful in something relating mechanics.

Get them to sit in the car pulling the ebrake every time you go to loosen a driveshaft or half shaft bolt. Remember that the driveline spins, so you need something holding it in place (ebrake/tranny) to break the bolts loose.

Loosen, spin, pull ebrake/gear, loosen, release ebrake/gear, spin, pull ebrake/great,...

Or if you're going solo, be a man and get a big prybar, with as much leverage as possible, and jam it on the driveshaft against the driveshaft tunnel. Should keep the driveline in check.

Changing a diff can be incredibly quick, but incredibly time consuming if you have to constantly get out from under the car.

[skylerwaite]

I believe it. I've done so many things without them and I always think to myself "Boy, I wish I had some ratchets right about now." Thankfully now I live in a house where people believe in real tools.

[shiboujin]

CSB can stay in IMO. You shouldnt need to futz with the drive shaft that much. Ive done so many diffs by myself its ridiculous. I think I can get one out in 15 min by myself.

A tip from me, dont pull the allen bolts all the way out, the CV boots will keep them in even when the axle flops around.


Also, Id put some mild lock-tite on the drive shaft nuts and the axle bolts. Ive tossed a few of them before. Enough for my axle to come off while I was driving and smash the diff rubber mount and cracked it. Thankfully the CV boot kept all the axle bolts in so I just had to put them in and drive home...

Oh and use a board between the jack and the diff, it balances easier I suppose.