Front dif removal

[Don W.]

Has anyone removed the front dif with the engine still in the truck? I have the mounts out, the motor jacked some (fan hitting the shroud) and it is sitting with the front drivers side mount sitting on the front xmember, the rear drive flange sitting on its mount and one of the case bolts up against the pan. Right (pas) side is free. I have the entire drag link/tie rod assembly removed so that's not an issue.

Reason for all this is the front freeze plugs behind the mounts leak and I'm trying to gain access to replace them. This is turning into such a hassel I'm concerned about getting it back into place once I change the freeze plugs.

TIA

 

[myclone]

Re: Front dif removal

I had to take the upper half of the fan shroud off so I could lift the engine a little higher to get mine out. Either I was doing it wrong or it just flat out wouldnt come out without the motor going up a little further than the upper shroud would let it.

It still wasnt the easiest job I ever did either :tdown: .

 

[Luke]

Re: Front dif removal

yep a massive pita, but it can be done, i had mine on a lift and still fought the hell out of it,

 

[Don W.]

Re: Front dif removal

OK, thanks. Tomorrow, shroud coming off, motor going up. How the heck did you get it back in? IOW did you have help?

This all started with broken mounts. I haven't something this far apart in years.:squint: I think I'm beyond PITA...:rotf:

 

[big gear head]

Re: Front dif removal

I've had a few of them out. I haven't had to raise the engine, but I haven't had one out of a SyTy. I have had them out of Bravada and 4X4 trucks. It is a pain. You have to turn it just right to get it out.

 

[myclone]

Re: Front dif removal

How the heck did you get it back in?

I fought with it for about an hour turning it every which way to get it just right so it would fit ( :rotf: ) while having it bench press style over my head.

IOW did you have help?

No but I wish I would have had at least one other person there to witness the monumental cussing the diff got from me.

This all started with broken mounts. I haven't something this far apart in years.:squint: I think I'm beyond PITA...:rotf:

Motor mount swaps are a huge PITA...I wouldnt wish the job on my worst enemy...well, yeah I would too.

 

[gjp]

Re: Front dif removal

look at it this way. don. You should only have to do it once.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Re: Front dif removal

Ive taken mine in and out 4 times with no problems.

you just need to get the truck up high enough to twist and pull the diff around so the right side of axle doesnt hit the ground.

 

[leroy]

Re: Front dif removal

Jack up the passenger side control arm as high as it will go to get clearance. Then unbolt the passenger side axle tube.....piece of cake.

Jim

 

[Don W.]

Re: Front dif removal

Well it's out. Not sure how in the heck I'll ever get it back... Just ahead of the dif, on the frame, is a two ear bracket. I'm thinking it was for trucks that had a steering shock. That thing was major in the way. Gonna pound it flat to the frame. On to the freeze plugs.

 

[big gear head]

Re: Front dif removal

Yea, some of the 4X4s had a steering stabilizer that bolted to the tabs that you mentioned. They also had a special drag link with another tapered hole in it for the other end of the stabilizer.

 

[Luke]

Re: Front dif removal

Well it's out. Not sure how in the heck I'll ever get it back... Just ahead of the dif, on the frame, is a two ear bracket. I'm thinking it was for trucks that had a steering shock. That thing was major in the way. Gonna pound it flat to the frame. On to the freeze plugs.

i took an air hammer and chissel(sp) and just cut it off

 

[Try Me]

Re: Front dif removal

i ground the welds off on the bottom left frame mount for the front diff (if your standing under the tranny looking towards the front of the truck. then did like leroy mentioned and jacked the control arms up and it fell in my lap. just have to weld that tab back on after you get it back up there and bolted in. :2cents:

 

[Don W.]

Re: Front dif removal

i ground the welds off on the bottom left frame mount for the front diff (if your standing under the tranny looking towards the front of the truck. then did like leroy mentioned and jacked the control arms up and it fell in my lap. just have to weld that tab back on after you get it back up there and bolted in. :2cents:

If I had a welder. However I do have access to one so I'm gonna check. Might just do that. Without that bracket install will be much easier.

Thanks

 

[motorhead]

Re: Front dif removal

Oh yea,there always fun arent they. I always cut that bracket below the pinion half way thru with a cut off wheel vertically.this gives it a nice place to fold when you bend the braket.When the diff is back in fold the bracket back and the cut that was previously made you can run a nice bead of weld down.

even when the brackets bent back its a struggle. sometimes just pop the right upper ball joint to flop the axle back far enough.Unbolt the the tube and take the diff out in 2 pieces.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Front dif removal

Oh yea,there always fun arent they. I always cut that bracket below the pinion half way thru with a cut off wheel vertically.this gives it a nice place to fold when you bend the braket.When the diff is back in fold the bracket back and the cut that was previously made you can run a nice bead of weld down.

even when the brackets bent back its a struggle. sometimes just pop the right upper ball joint to flop the axle back far enough.Unbolt the the tube and take the diff out in 2 pieces.

Yes great fun. I like the posts about doin' something with the bracket. Didn't really have any difficulty with the pas side of the dif. Once I got it down past the lower a-arm it was not an issue. Getting the dif housing itself out from that hole it lives in was different story. Had to sleep on it one night and try again, finally successfully, the next day.