Series 3 Front Diff Swap - half shaft question

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.

dvb668w

Active Member
Posts
256
Location
Gillingham Kent
Hi,

I need to swap my front diff on a swb ser3 landy, my question is how far do i have to pull the half shafts out to clear the diff? Do I have to strip the hubs down or can I just unbolt the drive flange and get enough movement there?

I will be changing the swivels and I have ordered new UJ’s to replace the ones on the half shafts if needed, I’ve been sent UK’s with grease nipples, will these be ok inside the axle ?

Thanks Andy
 
Hi,

I need to swap my front diff on a swb ser3 landy, my question is how far do i have to pull the half shafts out to clear the diff? Do I have to strip the hubs down or can I just unbolt the drive flange and get enough movement there?

I will be changing the swivels and I have ordered new UJ’s to replace the ones on the half shafts if needed, I’ve been sent UK’s with grease nipples, will these be ok inside the axle ?

Thanks Andy
The half shafts only need to come out by about 6 cm or so to clear the differential BUT =>

As you are replacing the swivels I'd pull them all of the way out and replace the seals for the half shafts as well. Replacing these now will hopefully stop differential oil from entering the grease in the moving parts on outer part of the axle.

Post up the part number on the box of your UJs - you might have been sent the wrong ones. My new ones came sans nips.
 
ok Ill have to check the box but this is what i ordered
RTC3690G
are the ones on front half shafts diffrent to those of the prop shafts?

Am I correct in thinking that seals are part of the swivel housing kit? DA3181

so I could change the diff, then access the seal when I change the swivels ?

Or am I a pair of seals short ???

Thanks Andy
 
OK i think this is the seal
Axle case oil seal 217400G and I don't think its part of the swivel kit???
If it isn't and i have to order a pair,,, are there any other nits that I should get at the same time ?
 
yep, ill stick an order in tomorrow..... But i should get enough clearance by just unbolting the drive flange apposed to removing the stub axle ??

thanks Andy
 
But I thought you were going to change the swivels as well...
I am, but if I could swap the diff Friday at home, then that's one less job to do when i get to a mates place on Saturday to swap the swivels! My garage isn't wide enough to extract the shafts, and only have the one day at my mates to get the swivels swapped :-(

I want a workshop!!!
 
I reckon you might not want to do this job in two stages:

If you remove the half shafts the way you say and then swap the differential (on Friday) you'll need to drain the oil twice as on the second time you'll be replacing the seals around the half shafts (on Saturday) along with the swivels.

The choice of course is yours but seems to me to be a bit of a faff...
 
how long do you think to do everything ???
Ive pulled a diff when i bust a rear half shaft but the swivels and uj's are unknown ???
thanks Andy
 
I'm a slow worker but each side took me about 8-9 hours if I remember right. Seized steering ball joints, cleaning things up, taking care fitting seals and pressing in bearings, then found a leaking brake slave cylinder. I was constantly referring to the manuals too. I'm sure more competent people could take a third off this time.
 
Another reason to go round a mates place, hes knows his stuff has done this before and has the tools for the job... Well that's the idea LOL
 
It is a good days work to do the diff and swivels, shimming the preload/fitting new railco bush etc. Have you or your mate got a spring balance ? You will need one to set the pull.
If you have not done one before double that time. Don't rush the set up on the swivel it will drive like a dog, get some oil in the relay whilst you are working at the front and be sure to replace the inner seals on the axle.
 
Took me a day each side for the swivels. Well a good five hours if breaks and nipping on here are taken off. :D

Having said that I had never done them before so plenty of head scratching. I cant wait for my half shafts or diff to implode. I feel quite left out. :(
 
Morning All,

Just a quick update.

I’m now the proud owner of 2 new shiny balls…. With no leaks (For now LOL)

It took around 3 to 4 hrs a side, this included making new break pips swapping one of the UJ’s and a trip to the local land rover parts Shop to get the axle bearings that you think would be included in the kit that like the axle oil seals that aren’t :mad:

Many thanks to Dave and his air chisel and all the other whizzy toys he has in his garage (Watch out or your be losing you EP90 oil dispenser!) When we found one of the axle bearing less a few rollers we decided to hold off changing the diff as this was most likely the cause of the noise, and it was. The Diff will be going on the shelf for when it’s needed (hopefully quite some time in the future.

Just need to upgrade the shocks to something better suited to parabolic springs and that’s it… till the next time:confused:
 
Back
Top