Is there a nack to getting fiesta cv joints into the diff?
According to the Haynes manual they should just slide in, but I cant get them in further than the clip. I know the splines are lining-up as everything turns as it should.

Cheers,
Martin.

A good shove should help get them in past the circlip

Can you see all the way through the hole?
I have seen the planet gear set in the middle of the diff rotate on these boxes, If it has you wont get the shafts in, you may even have to strip the box to realign it all.
But I hope all you need to do is give them a shove.
Steve

Yep, the gears are aligned, the shafts go in and the splines engage enoguht to operate the diff, but I'm having trouble getting them in past the clip.
I've tried persuading them and I've tried putting my weight on them.

I really want to avoid having to strip them
Image deleted by owner
as it's not a quick job.

But I might do it just to check they cv joint shafts DO fit the planet gears.

Cheers,
Martin.

Oops I thought you were talking about a fiesta box.
If you havent already tried, put the gap in the clip at the top so it is less likley to pick up.Also perhaps remove the paint I think I can see from the bits of the shaft that go through the hole.

It is a Fiesta diff, so I'd hope it would be straighforward.
The coating on the cv joints is how it came, they're both exchange units. I'll see how tough it is and try the gap at the top tomorrow.

Cheers,
Martin.

Good luck. You may have to gently twat them with a nylon mallet.
Steve.

The clips are the problem in the past I have resorted to fettling them a little so they slip in -- ie take them off and bend them in a tad, on one vehicle I even resorted to chamfering the ends a little.

[Edited on 3/4/06 by britishtrident]