rear differential cover swap while on car?
Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators
rear differential cover swap while on car?
Apparently I tightened the new diff drain plug a little too tight (had teflon tape on it dohH!) and actually cracked the differential housing. I seem to have a leak now, even though the crack wasn't very big and didn't seem to extend into the cover very much. I did silicone the hell out of the plug after doing this and let it sit. No dice still seems to be leaking.
I'm used to traditional RWD cars that have it easy to remove the diff cover. Not used to this IRS. So my question is, is it possible to swap the differential cover without dropping the whole rear and or center section? Or am I going to have to?
I'm used to traditional RWD cars that have it easy to remove the diff cover. Not used to this IRS. So my question is, is it possible to swap the differential cover without dropping the whole rear and or center section? Or am I going to have to?
1992 Legacy LS Special Wagon..
I've never changed a diff cover while in a car, but I could see it to be possible. Wouldn't be easy though!
The problem is that the differential mounts are built into the cover:
Since these mounds are in the subframe, you'll need to get the studs out of the cover, and then unbolt the 9 bolts that mate the cover to the diff. You could probably loosen all the mounting bolts and get the diff to droop enough to work in there.
When switching covers, be aware that not all covers are interchangeable. You can see the two diffs pictured don't mount up the same.
The problem is that the differential mounts are built into the cover:
Since these mounds are in the subframe, you'll need to get the studs out of the cover, and then unbolt the 9 bolts that mate the cover to the diff. You could probably loosen all the mounting bolts and get the diff to droop enough to work in there.
When switching covers, be aware that not all covers are interchangeable. You can see the two diffs pictured don't mount up the same.
SUBARUEHS Racing
gotcha. from looking, I can phyiscally get to 8 of the 9 cover bolts. As long as the stud nuts come off, I should be able to use the jamb nut technique to remove the studs. I could remove that little bushing assembly for more room. Guess time to find a spare cover.
Last edited by Buffman on Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1992 Legacy LS Special Wagon..
-
- Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8360
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
- Location: Tenino, WA
Those diff covers look like they're shaped a bit differently and one has heat sinks but other than that it looks like the bolt/stud placement and oil check and drain holes are identical.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
The dirty diff is from a 95 Impreza, the other is a LSD Legacy diff. What you can't tell from that picture, is that the diff cover actually protrudes out further on the heat sinked diff to fit a revised diff mount on the subframe. Here's a pic of the bolts used between the two diff covers. You can see they're very different in length. Top stud is from the legacy diff, bottom from the Impreza:kimokalihi wrote:Those diff covers look like they're shaped a bit differently and one has heat sinks but other than that it looks like the bolt/stud placement and oil check and drain holes are identical.
One other thing that you'll need to watch for when removing the cover is that the gears are not flush with the case surface, so you can't slide it straight down. That's why the cover isn't flat, it's got a curve to clear the gears inside. Hopefully that makes sense...
SUBARUEHS Racing
I guess another question is, if I want to drop the center section, so I have to pull the knuckles to pull the CV shafts, or can I pull the center section without having to dick around with the CV shafts (besides knocking the roll pin out)? IIRC I saw pics from Josh when he swapped his center section out, and it appears he didn't have to remove the half shafts?
Thanks
Thanks
1992 Legacy LS Special Wagon..
-
- Second Gear
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:44 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
when i did my gas tank i had to drop the diff and the crossmember the way i did the diff was i unbolted everything and lowered it about a foot i think so just enough that it was clear of the crossmember completely so that i could remove it and i never touched the cv shafts. as long as you dont lower it too much and rest it on soemthing, dont leave it hanging, they wont pop out of place
hah i actually have a pic too! i've never posted pics on here though so i dont know how. but i could email it to you if you're interested...
-Alex
hah i actually have a pic too! i've never posted pics on here though so i dont know how. but i could email it to you if you're interested...
-Alex
LIVE LOUD, ROCK HARD!!@
1992 Subaru Legacy SS 06 WRX TMIC TD-04 MSD coil 3" turboback H&R coils GR2 shocks fsb 20mm rsb 22mm stage 2 chip
2003 silver wrx wagon 5 spd just bought!! stock for now...
1992 Subaru Legacy SS 06 WRX TMIC TD-04 MSD coil 3" turboback H&R coils GR2 shocks fsb 20mm rsb 22mm stage 2 chip
2003 silver wrx wagon 5 spd just bought!! stock for now...
you can upload them on www.imageshack.us and use the direct link and put [img] [./img] remove the . around the link
1992 Legacy LS Special Wagon..
-
- Second Gear
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:44 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
-
- Second Gear
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:44 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
I'd highly recommend lowering/removing the diff.
I removed the diff the same way as above without removing the cv axles from the hubs. I loosened/removed the long bolt that attaches the lateral links to the hub to give me some room.
I removed the diff the same way as above without removing the cv axles from the hubs. I loosened/removed the long bolt that attaches the lateral links to the hub to give me some room.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm