How hard is it to change the diff?
Moderator: martauto
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- E30 Zone Addict
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expect all day to do
its awkward work
done a few now
its awkward work
done a few now

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- E30 Zone Addict
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the practice ive had i can have one off in 45 mins
then another 2 hours getting it back on
then another 2 hours getting it back on

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IMO it would be well worth the time to swap the diff's.
I have watched someone remove a standard open diff, and it took about 25-30 minutes (and lots of swearing)
not a difficult job if you have the right tools.
I have watched someone remove a standard open diff, and it took about 25-30 minutes (and lots of swearing)
not a difficult job if you have the right tools.

Removing the diff is the easy bit. Refitting one can be a PITA.smithy318i wrote:IMO it would be well worth the time to swap the diff's.
I have watched someone remove a standard open diff, and it took about 25-30 minutes (and lots of swearing)
And the right tools include a foot long scaff bar to go over the 19mm spanner to undo the top diff bolts. Any longer that one foot and it wont fit in the available space.not a difficult job if you have the right tools.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
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or you could interlink two spanners.

Tried that. My diff bolts were stupidly tight (the prop to diff bolts broke my fingerssmithy318i wrote:or you could interlink two spanners.

Its one 'tool' that cost me nothing and I wont be getting rid of.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
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- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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the first time i did mine it took most of the day because the bolts were on solid.the second time i did it in a couple of hours .awkward job to do lying on your back with it up on axle stands but straight forward.most hassle was trying to line up the 4 bolts on top of the diff when refitting

- 325bhpbruiser
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how come you dont just drop both axels off to swap em instead of fooking round with the diffs?

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- The longest resto in the world !
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because thats even more work
changing a diff is a bloody nightmare. And when u have done it more than once it's even worse because u know whats coming. I hate it, it's always before hand summoning the strength of the gods because your gonna be under the car on axle stands grovelling with no space for some leverage. They weigh a ton and u get crap in your eyes and covered in Sh!te and it's all very wrong and horrible and not something u should do over christmas is my point!
changing a diff is a bloody nightmare. And when u have done it more than once it's even worse because u know whats coming. I hate it, it's always before hand summoning the strength of the gods because your gonna be under the car on axle stands grovelling with no space for some leverage. They weigh a ton and u get crap in your eyes and covered in Sh!te and it's all very wrong and horrible and not something u should do over christmas is my point!
- 325bhpbruiser
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lol thats that then! aint done one on these yet so i dont know, merry christmas whislt your up simon!

It took me roughly 24 ours to do the M5 diff on my own.
18 hours to pshyc myself up and 6 hours to actually do it.
E30 one is not so bad in my opinion but Simon is so right.....leverage is rubbish and you have to use brute strength to move anything. Some type of eye protection is highly recommended especially if you wear contacts.
Having two hydraulic jacks makes life alot easier when putting the diff back in.
Sal
18 hours to pshyc myself up and 6 hours to actually do it.
E30 one is not so bad in my opinion but Simon is so right.....leverage is rubbish and you have to use brute strength to move anything. Some type of eye protection is highly recommended especially if you wear contacts.
Having two hydraulic jacks makes life alot easier when putting the diff back in.
Sal