Diff removal question
 

I am currently trying to remove my diff from the Sierra.

I have removed the two through bolts, the two front mounting bolts and the four bolts holding the rear rubber mount to the underside of the car. When I lower the jack the diff is still held in some way.

Is it just friction against the mounting plate or is there another bolt hiding around the rear mount.

I have stopped for lunch now to pose this question before I tried levering the diff of. I am aware and wary that the diff is heavy and I don’t want to lever it and have it release with a jolt and come crashing to the ground. I intended to remove all the bolts and lower it to the ground under control but it is hung up on something.

I think I have explained that twice and quite badly I hope you get the point. Of for noodles it is freezing here.

Cheers in advance Ginge

i susspect its probably just corrosion and the tightfitting mouinting points holding it. You could always put something soft underneath to catch it if it falls or use an old tyre. best of luck.. im off to tack together my rear suspension famework..

Andy

Ginge

If memory serves me right ... There are 2 long bolts at the rear of the diff + 2 short bolts near the prop flange at the front of the diff .... Finally if it is still in the car, there should be a rubber mounting bracket fixed to the upper rear of the diff ( 2 bolts ) This in turn is mounted to the underside of the cars chassis via 2 more bolts.

If you have removed this lot ..... It'll be just corrosion holding it fast, they can be quite firmly stuck.

It may help if you try to drive a wedge in there to spread the brackets a little. An old large flat bladed screwdriver should do the trick. ( Assuming that you don't have anything more suitable to hand ) ;)

Pop the two front bolts back in loosly. then give it a waggle with a pry bar.

If I am scrapping a sierra I usealy make an access hatch above to make the jobs on the diff a lot easier.

TT

Thanks Andy, Ronnie and TT,

Finished lunch now back to it.

Will update later

Cheers Ginge

As was stated it was just tight on the top through bolt mount.

I had two jacks in place and kept lowering them to give a gap of 20mm then pry the diff down in anticipation of it all letting go and ending up on the floor.

Nothing of the sort happened; it was all an anticlimax as the diff is not as heavy as I thought. Once it was free from the mount and resting on the two jacks I just lifted it out from under the car.

It is now sitting up the back of the garage positioned it a comedic way behind the gearbox.

Thanks again the advise was more than useful, as it gave me the confidence to apply some brute force.

bout 26kg from memory.

TT

Glad you got it sorted Ginge :)

Sometimes when things are held solid with corrosion you do begin to wonder if it's being held on by a secret fixing :confused:

Mind you it wouldn't be the first time I have been beating hell out of something & it was being held by a hidden fixing !!?? :D :D

Ronnie,

That is exactly what I was worried about, it being still held in by a fixing, all sorted now though.

Cheers Ginge

Yup, hands up all those who have got an engine halfway out only to find a throttle cable, choke cable (yes I am that old:( ) or earth cable was still connected.

D.