350i differential help
Discussion
Once again I call upon the wisdom of this forum. The diff in my 1989 350i is making a hell of a racket, so much so that I daren't use it on a motorway. Above 50mph the whole tunnel vibrates.
I have approached the garage who maintain my car (Cox and Buckles, Wimbledon, SW19), and they advise that a refurbed diff (from a Jag XJS) will cost about £400, and will take one and a half to 2 days in labour. They expect the total bill to be around £1,000. This raises a few questions:
Is the diff actually from an XJs ?
Is £400 about right for a reconditioned one ?
Is 1.5 to 2 days reasonable in terms of labour ?
Does anyone know somewhere else in the area that could do the job ?
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
I have approached the garage who maintain my car (Cox and Buckles, Wimbledon, SW19), and they advise that a refurbed diff (from a Jag XJS) will cost about £400, and will take one and a half to 2 days in labour. They expect the total bill to be around £1,000. This raises a few questions:
Is the diff actually from an XJs ?
Is £400 about right for a reconditioned one ?
Is 1.5 to 2 days reasonable in terms of labour ?
Does anyone know somewhere else in the area that could do the job ?
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
tomsugden said:
Once again I call upon the wisdom of this forum. The diff in my 1989 350i is making a hell of a racket, so much so that I daren't use it on a motorway. Above 50mph the whole tunnel vibrates.
I have approached the garage who maintain my car (Cox and Buckles, Wimbledon, SW19), and they advise that a refurbed diff (from a Jag XJS) will cost about £400, and will take one and a half to 2 days in labour. They expect the total bill to be around £1,000. This raises a few questions:
Is the diff actually from an XJs ?
Yes but you need to check which version as the ratios varied and some didn't have limited slip.
tomsugden said:
Is £400 about right for a reconditioned one ?
Not bad but they can be rebuilt for less.
tomsugden said:
Is 1.5 to 2 days reasonable in terms of labour ?
Bit long. Tower View changed my mine in a day but I had a spare available. Brakes and other things have to be changed over. Ideal time for some rear suspension TLC.
Does anyone know somewhere else in the area that could do the job ?
Tower View - North London 0208 452 6922.
It's all about diff ratios. The XJS has a 2.88 typically but there are some with 3.54 which is the same as the XJ6 which the Wedge uses.
So yes the XJS will fit but has the wrong ratio so isn't the right part which is what I said in a roundabout way (yes it will fit but check the ratios etc).
One of the favourite XJS mods is to retrofit the 3.54 diff.
BTW the old diff in the 520 was marked as a 2.88 and in fact was a 3.54. Bit of a shock when I saw the tag! Rotate the shafts and count the turns whatever you do!
>> Edited by shpub on Friday 17th February 12:46
So yes the XJS will fit but has the wrong ratio so isn't the right part which is what I said in a roundabout way (yes it will fit but check the ratios etc).
One of the favourite XJS mods is to retrofit the 3.54 diff.
BTW the old diff in the 520 was marked as a 2.88 and in fact was a 3.54. Bit of a shock when I saw the tag! Rotate the shafts and count the turns whatever you do!
>> Edited by shpub on Friday 17th February 12:46
tomsugden said:
Once again I call upon the wisdom of this forum. The diff in my 1989 350i is making a hell of a racket, so much so that I daren't use it on a motorway. Above 50mph the whole tunnel vibrates.
I have approached the garage who maintain my car (Cox and Buckles, Wimbledon, SW19), and they advise that a refurbed diff (from a Jag XJS) will cost about £400, and will take one and a half to 2 days in labour. They expect the total bill to be around £1,000. This raises a few questions:
Is the diff actually from an XJs ?
Is £400 about right for a reconditioned one ?
Is 1.5 to 2 days reasonable in terms of labour ?
Does anyone know somewhere else in the area that could do the job ?
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
It's my understanding that these diffs., Salisbury 4HU Powerlok, were definitely fitted to certain XJ series Jags. I had my diff rebuilt June 04 at Hardy Engineering, Leatherhead. Including some broken parts, all seals and bearings, it came to £450 inc.vat. I took the diff out and delivered to them. I would always favour getting your own unit rebuilt over an exchange from who knows where. At least you know how its been treated while you've had the car, and although exchanges will usually have a guarantee, you do not want to be taking the diff. out twice (or pay someone else to). As far as labour goes, for a start you're obviously going to be paying London rates. I had to take mine out twice in two years (deep joy) and I reckon about 2-3 hrs. to get it out, maybe 3-4 to get it back. For a pro outfit, 1.5 - 2 days I would say is taking the pi55. If you're competent with the spanners, and have space, you could save a lot of cash doing the removal and reinstall yourself. See here: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=209962&f=12&h=0&hw=diff+removal
Their labour rate must be at least £50ph, x 8 hours plus vat is close to £500, so total of £1,000 is about right, but I'd dispute the length of time that it should take. Alternatives: www.hardyengineering.co.uk/
and these have a good reputation: www.gearboxman.co.uk/
Finally, are you absolutely sure its the diff.? Could be shot uj's , on the driveshafts or the propshaft. Draining the diff oil will let you see whether there are things broken in there. Alernatively, get someone to put it on a lift and getting the wheels off the ground, running the engine in gear will allow you to find where the noise is coming from.
HTH.
7.
tomsugden said:
Many thanks all, car is now booked in with Hardy engineering next week. Looks like it's beans on toast for the next month or so
Just out of interest, what did they quote in terms of labour hours to remove and reinstall?
Also, I'm fairly certain that Austec use these guys for diff rebuilds, so they must be good. Without making you resort to bread and water for the next month, they'd almost certainly take the calipers off before their rebuild work. I'd recommend replacing the rear discs with new when they come to slap it all back together. IIRC they're less than £50 a pair, but are such a pain to replace if the diff is still in the car.
7.
I had to replace my lock nuts (specials) on the diff when I changed my UJs and I found Ward Engineering in Tilbury, they are Jag back axle specialists.
www.ward-engineering.co.uk
www.ward-engineering.co.uk
HI
THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS
JAGUAR AXLE SUPPLIES TEL;01375 846986 www.JAGAXLES.COM FAX;01375 408017
THAY ALSO DO FULLY RECON HANDBRAKE,FRONT,REAR CALIPERS FOR £55 APAIR
PADS AT £16 FOR ABOVE ANDREAR PADS AT £12
DIFF OIL AT £10 FOR 2LTS SAY STEVE WITH RED 400SE SENT YOU
THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS
JAGUAR AXLE SUPPLIES TEL;01375 846986 www.JAGAXLES.COM FAX;01375 408017
THAY ALSO DO FULLY RECON HANDBRAKE,FRONT,REAR CALIPERS FOR £55 APAIR
PADS AT £16 FOR ABOVE ANDREAR PADS AT £12
DIFF OIL AT £10 FOR 2LTS SAY STEVE WITH RED 400SE SENT YOU
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