Very inexperienced...need help removing and installing a diff.

[bmwm42]

im going to give it one last shot today with one long ass wrench if not ill wait till you have time

[Van Westervelt]

Time and food allowing, I am always game. Time is just my enemy with two jobs, full time school, taking care of home, and a 6 week old baby. :)

[bmwm42]

yes Van Westervelt care to help me install the diff you sold me ill even go take a piss while you work your magic

[dball4]

I just did an entire e34 diff, rear axles, hubs and brakes solo in under 3 hours. Removed and installed the new. Now those diffs are big. (540i)

I have had people come over to replace their diffs, play with bolts for an hour with no headway. I get under their car while they take a pee, when they come out, I let them know they are all broken free, and to hurry up cus I need my garage. ;) One time they took a pee, one time it was for an adult refreshment. Either way, experience pays in this situ. I cant count how many e30 diffs I have swapped in and out in the last few years.

And x10 to what ck_ said about "chasing" or cleaning and matching the threads on your diff going in. It can be the difference in pulling it back out AGAIN for that stuck 4th bolt.

Its a daunting task if youve never been there, but after a a couple times, its just a lil more time on your back.

When i get my lsd I will be sure to contact you.

[E30Rookie37]

Late nighter's?? at 1am.lol i just finished dinner haha!

Lol I agree for sure about that. I'm not starting work till 11pm and then eating dinner at like 3am.

[AirplaneBuilder]

Know what? I think we deserve a medal for being r3v late nighter's of the week.



I actually don't mind gloves for 60% of the work but I've got this issue with big palms, long fingers but all of my hand is pretty lean. I beat the piss out of my hands on suspension. Holy God do I beat the shit out of my hands.

Late nighter's?? at 1am.lol i just finished dinner haha!

[ck_taft325is]

I just did an entire e34 diff, rear axles, hubs and brakes solo in under 3 hours. Removed and installed the new. Now those diffs are big. (540i)

I have had people come over to replace their diffs, play with bolts for an hour with no headway. I get under their car while they take a pee, when they come out, I let them know they are all broken free, and to hurry up cus I need my garage. ;) One time they took a pee, one time it was for an adult refreshment. Either way, experience pays in this situ. I cant count how many e30 diffs I have swapped in and out in the last few years.

And x10 to what ck_ said about "chasing" or cleaning and matching the threads on your diff going in. It can be the difference in pulling it back out AGAIN for that stuck 4th bolt.

Its a daunting task if youve never been there, but after a a couple times, its just a lil more time on your back.

Pretty much this. I got stuffed on non-chased bolts and being wrecked from moving tile all day so I was at about half speed and creaking joints/back. All the while Criv and Luke where bullshitting and tapping my damn foot with an encouraging "arn't you done yet? Damn..."

[Van Westervelt]

I just did an entire e34 diff, rear axles, hubs and brakes solo in under 3 hours. Removed and installed the new. Now those diffs are big. (540i)

I have had people come over to replace their diffs, play with bolts for an hour with no headway. I get under their car while they take a pee, when they come out, I let them know they are all broken free, and to hurry up cus I need my garage. ;) One time they took a pee, one time it was for an adult refreshment. Either way, experience pays in this situ. I cant count how many e30 diffs I have swapped in and out in the last few years.

And x10 to what ck_ said about "chasing" or cleaning and matching the threads on your diff going in. It can be the difference in pulling it back out AGAIN for that stuck 4th bolt.

Its a daunting task if youve never been there, but after a a couple times, its just a lil more time on your back.

[ck_taft325is]

The top "hanger" bolts is what you'd be using from what was on your car. You spray some WD-40 or PB Blaster and thread it in, out, in, out, in, out about 20 times. Just to make sure the threads on your "new" diff are good and cleaned out and the bolt will go in smoothly. I had one hang up and when we where struggling it we hung it off of just one to get more movement on the diff. Ever had a differential just straight up fall from about 2' when you where under it? It's a rush to say the least. Also stripped the hell out of the front driver's side threads and we had to very gingerly cut out the broken threads to catch good ones. Fun stuff.

[E30Rookie37]

Took me 6 hours.

Pro-Tip: Chase your new differentials bolt hole threads PRIOR to installation. I got 3 bolts in and then stripped one due to fucked up threads when I went from S3.46 to S2.93. Had to start all over again.

What do you mean by chase? You mean like re-thread? What type of tool is it I would need for that?

[ck_taft325is]

Took me 6 hours.

Pro-Tip: Chase your new differentials bolt hole threads PRIOR to installation. I got 3 bolts in and then stripped one due to fucked up threads when I went from S3.46 to S2.93. Had to start all over again.

[Pussy30]

Took me 2 nights. Leverage and creativity is key.

[ck_taft325is]

Why would the rear wheels have to come off if you're under the car? You're on widow maker's, right? Not just a jack?

Get it up a bit higher and rotate the DS until it's at the farthest point from the ground when you're working on it. Breaker bar... BAM. Try to not bust up your knuckles.

[E30Rookie37]

I'd definately try 'em, heh. I've been using the shit nitrile ones I've had in the garage kicking around for 3+ years and they suck. Luke uses "Thicksters" which are fucking amazing for 80% of the work but end up stretching out and getting in my damn way.





Oil changes. That's where I'll use gloves all the time from here on out. No reason not to at this point.

I have two different set's of snap-on gloves. One set is just normal mechanic gloves and then the other set is super grippy. I defintely have been using the super grippy gloves trying to get this SOB of a nut off. It's always the last nut or bolt that gives you the most trouble... I'm gonna try and cheater bar it again tomorrow but it's hard with the limited space under the car. Didn't want to take the rear wheels off but will if I have to to get that leverage.

[E30Rookie37]

You still working on this? If your free mornings I can help and probably my buddy too, we've done this before. We both work 2nd shift from 2-11pm sometime 1am so after work wont work for us.

Yeah I am unfortunately but I would appreciate the help so much. I work graveyard shift from 11pm til 7am so after you're off work won't work for me either. I could definitely do it in the morning when I'm off work any day now, the sooner the better. I was going to try and work on it tomorrow and see what progress can be made but don't think it will be much.