Today got round to cleaning up the final drive unit from all of the oil that has been pi55ing out of it for years which seemed to have been ignored from previous owners until now, now want to take them out, in the haynes manual it just says lever them out with a screwdriver but these buggers will just not come out, made a puller that sat insde and all it did was bend! Do I need a thicker bit of steel or am I doing something very wrong? I didn't want to go hammering a screwdriver down the side just incase I damaged the alloy housing in some way. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I have run out of fresh ideas, btw I have the same problem with both sides which led me to think I was doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance

Rich

Just noticed this thread so will try the claw hammer!

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=29140

[Edited on 9/10/05 by RichardK]

Dont use a claw hammer!

I tried it all, screwdriver (yea right!), claw hammer (you will end up damaging the diff).

Finally got it out with of all things, an oil seal puller tool, funny that !!

I used a 24" pry bar. "Carefully"

If you use a scewdriver use one that is designed to be hit on top - yes they do exist! I just use a sharpened piece of 8mm bar to make a cold chisel (only grind one angle, that way it slides between seal and casing easily), once drifted in the seal pops out a treat.

used a screwdriver and a mallet to tap the outer edges of the seal towards the centre. this loosened it enough to pull it out.

For me a big flat head and lots of WD40 to dissolve a bit of the grease around the seal and pop! A tiny score on one side but will be fine as the oil seal sits lower than the scratch...

BTW this guy sells replacements cheaply...

http://www.bearingkits.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/132

Chris.

Thanks guys, got a seal puller from machine mart and slowly proceeded to bend that as well !!! Gently tapped a small flat blade screwdriver down the side and then a slightly bigger one, then tried the seal puller again (after bending it back again ) and was then able to get the little sods out.

Just one question though, are the seals different in a 1.6 sierra saphire 1991 to the ones been sold in the link above.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Rich

To be honest Rich I haven't ordered them yet, but I have a 7inch 3.38 diff with push in shafts and you have got me thinking...

Does anyone know whether the 7 and a half inch diff and bolt on shafts would have different seals? And whether or not the Cosworth's were bolt on and 7 and a half inch?

Ta,

Chris.

i've seen the other thread, but for peace of mind, they're only £12.22 from the ford dealers, and will definitely fit.

dunno what postage on the cheap ones are, but it's only 50p difference tops. you'll never use the pinion seal anyway, unless you fancy getting the preload set up again on the pinion bearing.
hth
tom