Can i buy an open medium case diff and simply swap the internals. I know the answer is probably yes but need to be 100% certain (which is what i thought i was with the e36 internals
Buggerd pinion bearing.
Moderator: martauto
Hi, just a bit advice on swapping diff internals needed, i foolishly thought a crown wheel and pinion out an e36 3ltr m3 diff would fit into my e30 lsd. Major error , unfortuanatly i have already installed the bearings on the e36 pinion shaft and am unable to remove the e30 pinion inner bearing(which is damaged) my bearing seperator is a good size but it just aint budging.
Can i buy an open medium case diff and simply swap the internals. I know the answer is probably yes but need to be 100% certain (which is what i thought i was with the e36 internals
) Thanks in advance. 
Can i buy an open medium case diff and simply swap the internals. I know the answer is probably yes but need to be 100% certain (which is what i thought i was with the e36 internals
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Swapping diff. internals is a bit more involved than that! Clearances have to be set, if you want it to last.
Contact 'Gareth' on here. He knows all about these things.
Contact 'Gareth' on here. He knows all about these things.
Hi Brian, thanks for the contact, sry for not being clear in the opening post, i have read the posts on this and other forums on diff rebuilds and am aware of setting up the crown and pinion bearings correctly with shims while using engineers blue etc, while i wholeheartedly agree with what is said realisticly my track car will see 500 miles a year if its/im lucky, added to the fact its surounded by 20 year old parts and a standard engine im kinda hoping this level of detail isnt critical, famous last words i know but worth a shot before £100 + on bearings alone and many hours are spent when a simple give a whirl attitude may suffice.
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
That approach worked for Colin Chapman, and he didn't do too badly on the track!
I used a combination of a big flywheel puller and a lump hammer to remove mine. Bit Heath but it worked. If it's the shell of the bearing stuck in the case, have you tried a lump hammer and socket combination.
I found the pinion bearing on the pinion shaft was hardest to remove.
I found the pinion bearing on the pinion shaft was hardest to remove.
Thats it bumhole its the inner pinion bearing, gonna get the pinion down to -30c or so then set the blow torch on the bearing while its under preasure from the bearing puller, will either explode/shatter in my face or slide off nicely. We shall see.
I thought you might recognise those sound engineering principles somewhere else Brian !
I thought you might recognise those sound engineering principles somewhere else Brian !
Well. .. .. not that this is perticularly interesting but i am so pleased its off i thought a post was in order ? It was none of the above as my face is still in tact = good and it certainly didnt slide off, one 4ft breaker bar help from the bro and a completely shagged bearing puller (twisted to fu@k) half a can of butane and it eventually and begrudgingly came off. 'THE' most iritating thing to remove on an E30 !

