[steveG]

Newbie question - never had to pull a diff out before.
Vitara rear diff.
I've got the axles out (hanging out the housing by about a foot), undone the nuts around the diff flange, and taken off driveshaft and the A frame balljoint.

I've tried driving a thin steel wedge between the diff flange and the housing, but it just doesn't seem to budge.
Double checked that I have all the nuts off the flange.

Am I missing something or is it just a case of stuck on the flange sealant and more force required to separate it.

Steve

[lump_a_charcoal]

Give it a good hoik... It should come out once the gasket is broken.

Make sure your car is well supported first though...

[atari4x4]

yeah it might need a good wak near the flange to loosen it, if your axles are out & ALL of the bolts/nuts are off it should move.

the 1st one i pulled came apart easy, the 2nd one was a bitch!

[steveG]

Thanks guys. Its out now.
Wouldn't budge until I drove the flange bolts back into the housing a bit. Took a pretty hefty smack with a hammer and drift to get them to move too.

Now for the front one....

Steve

[Damo]

Best way i've found to crack that seal is to put a jack under the flange. You only need to give it a little pressure and it breaks the seal easy.

[steveG]

Thanks Damo - I'll try and remember that for next time.

[royce]

if youve had teh axles hanging in the housing like that replace teh axle seals you jsut destroyed, otherwise your brakes will either get oily or catch fire

[steveG]

royce wrote:

if youve had teh axles hanging in the housing like that replace teh axle seals you jsut destroyed, otherwise your brakes will either get oily or catch fire

Thanks Royce. I hadn't thought about damaging the seal but its a good point.
I've just had another look and there is a smaller diameter ring with lots of holes on the inboard side of the seal and it looks like the axle was sitting on that rather than on the seal.

Not a drama in this case anyway as the car is just being stripped for parts.