Quick Writeup: How to Replace Front Differential

SacDoug

Member
Re: Quick Writeup: How to Replace Front Differential

I had something clinking around in there so I took it back off today to try to figure out what went wrong. It turns out that there was a metal plate in there that was for the 4WD truck that it came out of but it isn't needed for our AWD setup. Problem solved.

On the bright side, I found a MUCH better way to clear room for the axle tube. Zip. I'm editing the writeup to reflect it.
 
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SacDoug

Member
Re: Quick Writeup: How to Replace Front Differential

midnightbluS10 said:
If you don't mind, I copied this over to s-series.org. It will probably be added to the How-To list on our front page.


Feel free to use it. I just hope that it helps someone perform this task without all the headaches that I ran into. I think my arms are bigger now from all the lifting that I did to get the differential into position while fighting against the steering assembly, and the passenger CV axle. It took me 14 hours of headache after headache the first time and 6 hours the 2nd time when I realized that the nope. I think I could probably do the whole thing in 3-4 hours now. I just hope I don't have to ever do it again. :)
 
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SacDoug

Member
Re: Quick Writeup: How to Replace Front Differential

3rd times the charm. It turns out that the differential that I recieved was also bad. This time I went to a local junkyard to get another one. If this one goes bad, at least I can easily use the warrenty to exchange it.

I started at 4:30 pm and finished by 7:45 pm. 3:15 minutes for the entire swap including swapping out the driver's side axle plate. Now I just have to cross my fingers and hope I don't have to do it a 4th time. :(
 

QUICK STORM

B.A.M.F. BMW Tech
Re: Quick Writeup: How to Replace Front Differential

you should replace the motor mounts with solid ones while your in ther next time
 
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