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       #Post#: 47462--------------------------------------------------
       Rebuilding a diff
   DIR By: Huffo-James
       Date: January 7, 2013, 6:51 am
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       I think I've ruined the bearing on the input flange of the rear
       diff of my Series 1. I think this was because I ran the rear
       diff with the big nut in the input fIange too loose (the seal
       weeped), and then overtightened it.
       I've removed the diff and fitted a spare as a temporary repair.
       The diff I've fitted whines dreadfully at 35mph, so I'm keen to
       repair the original diff and refit it.
       The diff I have removed didn't whine, but I think it briefly
       seized because it broke a drive shaft when I was driving slowly
       on a flat level tarmac road. With the diff sat on the bench I
       find that if I turn the drive fIange the motion is very 'lumpy'
       with tight spots. Looking into the diff, neither the pinion nor
       the crownwheel show any obvious signs of damage. Hence, I
       suspect the bearing in the nose of the diff has died.
       I've been quoted something over £200 to have the diff
       professionally refurbished, but I'm wondering if this is
       something I could tackle by myself, saving myself some money and
       simultaneously learning something. I'm a reasonably competent
       amateur mechanic having rebuilt a couple of engines and many
       other repairs on various Series Land-Rovers, but I've never
       repaired a diff: just changed them. I've got a Dial Test
       Indicator which I suspect might be needed.
       I've had a look at the parts book, and the diff doesn't look too
       complicated. I haven't yet checked the workshop manual to see if
       that has any guidance.
       I'm sure there will be numerous people here who have done this
       before. If anyone has pertinent experience or advice and would
       like to share it, then I would be very grateful for the benefit
       of their wisdom.
       Cheers
       James
       --
       1956 Series 1 88" - Huffo
       #Post#: 47489--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Rebuilding a diff
   DIR By: hippydave
       Date: January 7, 2013, 11:08 am
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       i have been there done that and smashed it to pieces within the
       first 5 miles of driving, they have to be set up bob on using
       engineers blue to make sure the cogs meet just so and even then
       a diy job may leave something just off perfect for it let go in
       the middle of nowhere at just the wrong when you are smiling to
       yourself thinking that ive done a bloody good job putting this
       diff back together only for it bite you on the arse. Im not
       saying it cant be done it just needs to be done by someone who
       knows their stuff.
       #Post#: 47492--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Rebuilding a diff
   DIR By: NiteMare
       Date: January 7, 2013, 11:20 am
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       i've only ever rebuilt one, i did this by feel and looking
       carefully
       built it out of two scrap diffs so i wasn't going to lose
       anything by trying it, the worst thing was it turned out i had a
       mixture of metric and imperial parts (rover diffs), an imperial
       4.3 diff with shot bearings and shims  and a metric 3.54 with
       stripped crownwheel/pinion
       i ended up using the metric case and centre and carefully going
       through the bearings to mix and match components with the
       housing and centre, i did look at kam diffs and another site
       (crown differentials ?? ) to gain a little guidance and then
       just got stuck in (nothing to lose)
       as luck had it everything worked out fine with a nice quiet diff
       and to the best of my knowledge all parts lined up very closely
       to correct, no dial guages or "blue" used to set it all up just
       "feel"
       metric and imperial bearings have different widths and outer
       diameters but luckily the bores on them are the same size, you
       can get adaptor shims/sleeves to fit imperial bearings into
       metric cases so there isn't anything that can't be adapted
       without spending a little if needs be
       i did spend the best part of a day setting it up though
       #Post#: 47730--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Rebuilding a diff
   DIR By: Huffo-James
       Date: January 9, 2013, 7:12 am
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       Thanks for the advice guys. I'll have a really good read of the
       manual I think, and then decide if I'm going to dig in or fork
       out!
       If I do rebuild, and it works, I'll post my experience here.
       Cheers
       James
       #Post#: 47739--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Rebuilding a diff
   DIR By: espacekiller
       Date: January 9, 2013, 10:33 am
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       I read through it with the same intention, it seems the backlash
       in the diff carrier and crown- pinnion might not be too bad to
       set up with care, however setting the pinion height to start
       with looks like a bit of a pain you need dummy spacers and a
       proper (expensive looking) height guage tool thingy to measure
       it, it all looked a bit tricky.
       My plan was to leave the pinion as it is set already and
       possibly tinker with the other bits.
       You could just swap your dead pinion bearing and put it back
       together with the same amount of shimms/spacers on the pinion to
       keep the height the same? I would probably measure the old and
       new bearing make to sure they are exactly the same and add or
       remove spacers accordingly, what have you got to loose.
       #Post#: 47747--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Rebuilding a diff
   DIR By: bob86
       Date: January 9, 2013, 12:11 pm
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       When I rebuilt the pair in mine I just used the shims that were
       already there for the pinion height and replaced the bearings
       with timken ones. The instructions in one of the workshop
       manuals are pretty good. Just keep it all clean and mark the
       caps before you take them off so the threads line up when you
       put them back on!  :banghead
       The costs add up a bit. £20ish for each bearing, assorted shims,
       locktabs if you take the crown wheel off, new seal and input
       flange all adds up!
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