Diff top bush

[Storer]

Hope someone can help.

Is the diff top bush sliced through length ways or is it one solid rubber bush?

If it's solid rubber mine needs replacing - bug*er!

I can see some expense coming up. Need new exhaust middle and back sections, suspension set up and possibly some bushes in that, door surround rubber, diff top bush, etc...............

Oh well I'll do it gradually over the next few months.

[Sir Beerah]

It's a one piece rubber item bonded to metal outer and inner sleeves, you will need something the same size as the outer dia (I used a socket), a long bar (long enough to poke out the of the rear wheel arch) and a big hammer to hit it the bar with.

[Storer]

If it's got a steel outer then I bet it rust-welds itself to the chassis, hence the big hammer.

Will a 7lb sledge do

[caduceus]

Storer said:

Will a 7lb sledge do

If you can get a good enough run at it, yes.

[Ireland]

I'll hopefully be doing this job next weekend.

The mounting bush is like the ones in the suspension.

My plan is to see if I can safely heat the old one and pull the rubber out.

Then a hacksaw blade can then hopefully be used to slice along the length of the outer shell which will permit it to be tapped out.

The key word in all this is "hopefully" as I know I'll be working in a space about the size of an apple.

[diycerb]

Just done mine, all be it with the body off!!

I used the oxy acetylene, warmed up the inner steel sleeve with out catching the rubber a light...much!! The heat transfers through the sleeve melting the rubber around it, you can then push out the sleeve with a screw driver. Then heated up the chassis around the bush, eventually the rubber melts around the outside and the whole rubber can be pushed out. Then using a hack saw I cut through the outer metal sleeve. This relieves the sleeve within the chassis and it can be easily tapped out with a drift and small hammer.

This is the same principle I used to do the every bush on the suspension.

Rich.

[Ireland]

diycerb said:

..... it with the body off!!.....

The easy way, eh?

;)

[FarmyardPants]

I've just bought some replacement diff bushes and the kit consists of 3 inner sleeves and 3 polyeurathane(sp) bushes - no outer sleeves. Are the outer sleeves optional
Do I try to reuse the existing ones or fit the new bushes without them?
Thx.

[diycerb]

FarmyardPants said:

I've just bought some replacement diff bushes and the kit consists of 3 inner sleeves and 3 polyeurathane(sp) bushes - no outer sleeves. Are the outer sleeves optional
Do I try to reuse the existing ones or fit the new bushes without them?
Thx.

No need for outer sleeves when fitting poly bushes.

[FarmyardPants]

diycerb said:

FarmyardPants said:

I've just bought some replacement diff bushes and the kit consists of 3 inner sleeves and 3 polyeurathane(sp) bushes - no outer sleeves. Are the outer sleeves optional
Do I try to reuse the existing ones or fit the new bushes without them?
Thx.

No need for outer sleeves when fitting poly bushes.

Thanks. Still have to get the old sleeves out which sounds like the PITA part. Had the car up on axle stands last night for a nose around. The side ones look fairly straightforward but there's no way on God's green earth I could do the top one without a lift. Time to tell my friend about some garage time Also, the kit comes with a little 'condom packet' of lube. Another numpty question: should the bush move relative to the inner sleeve, or the inner sleeve relative to the bolt? I'm guessing the sleeve is held clamped by the bolt and the lube goes between the sleeve and the bush..?

[Ireland]

On the suspension I put the copper grease (lube) EVERYWHERE.

I reckoned it was better to be looking at it than looking for it.


Oh, and I've finally started to do this job on my car tonight.

I've only got as far as taking off the exhaust and have already run into trouble trying to undo the top two 19mm nuts on the M10 bolts (with the allen-key heads) that hold the bottom plates onto the diff.

I guess I know where I'm going to be spending the next couple of evenings.

[brakedust300]

Ireland said:

On the suspension I put the copper grease (lube) EVERYWHERE.

I reckoned it was better to be looking at it than looking for it.


Oh, and I've finally started to do this job on my car tonight.

I've only got as far as taking off the exhaust and have already run into trouble trying to undo the top two 19mm nuts on the M10 bolts (with the allen-key heads) that hold the bottom plates onto the diff.

I guess I know where I'm going to be spending the next couple of evenings.

If you get a chance keep me posted on how it goes and how long it takes..... This is another job i need to do..... does the whole diff/suspension etc need to come off?

[Ireland]

It definitely looks like the job of replacing the bushes would be easier with the diff removed but time involved in removing and re-fitting the diff may cancel out the benefits of taking it out (if that makes sense).

I also need to change the drive boots but they haven't arrived yet so I plan to try doing the job with the diff in place.

It'll be interesting to see how that works out.

I'll keep adding progress updates and I've been taking pictures as I go so I'll eventually get those added as well.

[Ireland]

I said yesterday that I was planning to have a go at doing this job while the diff was still in place.

I tried.

I failed.

In fact I had no choice but give up and start opening bits to get the diff out.

The top two lock nuts on the plates that attache the diff to the lower mounts simply won't open whatever I do.

I almost got the drives disconnected fully tonight and I have most of the bolts loosened so tomorrow night should see the diff out (if my mate can make it to help me lift it out).

To be continued .....

[Ireland]

Another tough evening.

I managed to get both drives disconnected and the bolts came out of the diff ..... but it refused to come out.

The two front mounting plates have to come off the diff to get it out and the bolts are a pig to remove (so far I've only managed to remove one).

The two front bushes can be fitted to the plates once they are off.

The rear bush, in theory, could be fitted with the diff in place but it DEFINITELY will be easier with the diff out.

Oh, and it's a dirty job.

[brakedust300]

Cheers for the updates! Have you been able to take pics?

[FarmyardPants]

I've copped out and booked Racing Green to do mine. Needs suspension bushes too. Don't have time to do it myself, much as I'd like to

[Brummmie]

The diff only comes out one way, you just have to wriggle it around then it suddenly drops! I had to take mine out to change the final drive ratio. It was easier with the body off though! The tough bit is getting the bush out once you have access to it, best of luck. As for suspension bushes if you have access to hydraulic press this is easier than cutting everyone, i had to use heat aswell as 9 tons of pressure!

Edited by Brummmie on Friday 25th July 19:22

[Ireland]

I've managed to take some pics but, as the job jot very dirty while I was trying to get siezed bolts out and also once I started handling grease, it was a bit too dirty to handle the camera all the time.

I'm heading off on hoildays shortly so this job won't get finished 'til after I get back.

I'll post more then and will try to get the pics uploaded as well.

I've decided to replace the drive boots as well now that it's all coming apart and my local Ford dealers finally admitted today that they have failed to source them so I'll have to start looking elsewhere.

It looks like I won't be driving my Cerb for quiet a few weeks yet.

[optimax sniffer]

FarmyardPants said:

I've copped out and booked Racing Green to do mine. Needs suspension bushes too. Don't have time to do it myself, much as I'd like to

Mine is in at Dulfords having the same done. Going for the poly bushes all round