Dif job, what's needed?
Discussion
To finish this tread off and for others info,,, Diffs are b
d difficult things to replace,,, but it ain't rocket science.
Here's a rough idea of what we did
Car on two post lift.
Exhaust off ( anti roll bar already removed)
Rear wheels off
Prop shaft off
Speed sensor disconnected and removed from diff and wiring tucked up out the way.
Remove drive shafts by simply undoing thev6 bolts on each one and tie them up.
Use gearbox jack to take some weight
Loosen 4 bolts holding the two side plates on to diff.
Remove upper mounting bolt.
Remove the two mounting bolts for the side bushes ( mountings) and remove side plates out the way.
Jiggle diff forwards and up a bit, turn diff so shorter side just slips through the chassis rail and remove diff at a 45 degree angle.
Easy I say,,, ehhh!
I've probably forgotten something but the most important thing with these Diffs is tools. You'll need stubby spanner and ratchets, long extension/ breaker bars, ratchet spanners, bent spanners, and a decent impact gun if you want to loosen then tighten it all up properly.
The top bush for instance is best undone with long extensions coming in through the wheel arches.
Based on my tools alone I wouldn't have done it.
Fitting is the opposite of the above and by connecting everything loose before tightening anything, allows some wiggle room.
I also replaced fuel filter with diff removed.
To do all that work, finish in dark, no test drive other than the few miles towards the M25 then drive at 80-90 takes some belief,,, or stupidity,,, I had belief.
So today I've tested it a bit. No leaks ( as if)
Feels really nice, subtle but different. It's tightly held in there I know that. No noises at all. Get in there
I'd had my little list of bits to get while doing this job,, forgot the glaring obvious,,, grease for drive shafts.
Thetes plenty of grease as my UJ's were replaced a few years ago but to my mind not enough.
I've already got some more coming so as I've already done 170 miles on the diff since yesterday I'll be ginger and wait til the oil change at 500 miles and just pull the shafts off and apply more grease.
Other than that it seems done.
Fingers crossed.
Mbe ign/new diff. Shunting gone.
As others have mentioned the only noise now is a clunk if I go on off throttle very abruptly at slow speeds, faster it's gone this is very slight and only happens if I drive very badly! Not the cars fault.
Changing gear is easier and releasing the clutch has taken on a new meaning. Smooth and easy to do.
This is as close to new car I can ever hope to achieve.
I was so pissed having to do this( finances and wrong time to be doing it) but now it's another one of those things that actually make the car better and boy do I like it.
Well worth replacing/ reparing your diff if it needs it in the longer run.
Oh greased prop UJ's too.
Other than the weight of the thing it wasn't as bad as expected to remove and easier to re install than I expected. That's a lot to do with someone with me who knows what tools needs at what time saving me hours.
This repair was made possible by the generosity and help of a great great Tvr chap and his family. Thankyou .
d difficult things to replace,,, but it ain't rocket science. Here's a rough idea of what we did
Car on two post lift.
Exhaust off ( anti roll bar already removed)
Rear wheels off
Prop shaft off
Speed sensor disconnected and removed from diff and wiring tucked up out the way.
Remove drive shafts by simply undoing thev6 bolts on each one and tie them up.
Use gearbox jack to take some weight
Loosen 4 bolts holding the two side plates on to diff.
Remove upper mounting bolt.
Remove the two mounting bolts for the side bushes ( mountings) and remove side plates out the way.
Jiggle diff forwards and up a bit, turn diff so shorter side just slips through the chassis rail and remove diff at a 45 degree angle.
Easy I say,,, ehhh!
I've probably forgotten something but the most important thing with these Diffs is tools. You'll need stubby spanner and ratchets, long extension/ breaker bars, ratchet spanners, bent spanners, and a decent impact gun if you want to loosen then tighten it all up properly.
The top bush for instance is best undone with long extensions coming in through the wheel arches.
Based on my tools alone I wouldn't have done it.
Fitting is the opposite of the above and by connecting everything loose before tightening anything, allows some wiggle room.
I also replaced fuel filter with diff removed.
To do all that work, finish in dark, no test drive other than the few miles towards the M25 then drive at 80-90 takes some belief,,, or stupidity,,, I had belief.
So today I've tested it a bit. No leaks ( as if)
Feels really nice, subtle but different. It's tightly held in there I know that. No noises at all. Get in there
I'd had my little list of bits to get while doing this job,, forgot the glaring obvious,,, grease for drive shafts.
Thetes plenty of grease as my UJ's were replaced a few years ago but to my mind not enough.
I've already got some more coming so as I've already done 170 miles on the diff since yesterday I'll be ginger and wait til the oil change at 500 miles and just pull the shafts off and apply more grease.
Other than that it seems done.
Fingers crossed.
Mbe ign/new diff. Shunting gone.
As others have mentioned the only noise now is a clunk if I go on off throttle very abruptly at slow speeds, faster it's gone this is very slight and only happens if I drive very badly! Not the cars fault.
Changing gear is easier and releasing the clutch has taken on a new meaning. Smooth and easy to do.
This is as close to new car I can ever hope to achieve.
I was so pissed having to do this( finances and wrong time to be doing it) but now it's another one of those things that actually make the car better and boy do I like it.
Well worth replacing/ reparing your diff if it needs it in the longer run.
Oh greased prop UJ's too.
Other than the weight of the thing it wasn't as bad as expected to remove and easier to re install than I expected. That's a lot to do with someone with me who knows what tools needs at what time saving me hours.
This repair was made possible by the generosity and help of a great great Tvr chap and his family. Thankyou .
Edited by ClassicChimaera on Friday 10th March 18:37
ChimpOnGas said:
Brilliant stuff Alun, well done mate
Unfortunately I have this job on the cards too
Dave just look at it positively because it's one of those mods/ changes that actually make a big difference. When I think of the money I've spent on my car, it's a shocker but this bits worth every penny especially when I've saved on labour costs. Unfortunately I have this job on the cards too
Alex did one on jacks I believe, hard core boy cos taking the weight of that thing on your chest,,
I thought manoeuvring it out and back in would have been harder so I'm genuinely well pleased with how the day went.
It's really awesome Dave.
I haven't got a good side anymore 
Close to lifting it in by the looks of that.
Just another thing to note. My diff bushes were in very good condition and bolts came out freely. Tfft.
Having powers replace my diff bushes a few years back now seems like a very good thing. Removing the metalastic bushes would have added a number of hours at least.
Yes great fun when it goes well Peter.
My final comment on this is,,,, it's brilliant BUT why do I have this nagging doubt that given 6 months it'll naturally loosen up and become a bit slacker?
I'm very impressed with the new diff but I think it needs plenty of use before I can be sure it's worth the cost,,,especially if someone's paying to have it fitted. (Whatever the experts charge for this ( it's not enough !!!)
So I have little choice but to put some serious miles in over this coming summer (all things being equal
) to prove or dispel this thought! Bring it on, wow what a car now boys.
Has anyone fitted one of Adrian's Diffs and already managed say 5000 miles. How's it feeling.
Thanks Al
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