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have i busted my diff
peterriley2 - 19/5/06 at 11:37 PM

hey guys!!
i recently got my diff and have been cleaning it, but whilst looking on here i found its not good to get water inside it. looking at it there is very minor surface rust on where the propshafts go in, im wondering if it could be just the start of the rabbithole. i only did it a couple of days ago, and was planning on taking the back plate off to clean inside anyway. its a 3.38 or 2.14 (not sure) so i really want to keep it. any help?
Joel

nitram38 - 20/5/06 at 04:42 AM

Do a search on here for electrolysis.
You can replace light rust using this method and bring your diff up to like new condition.

peterriley2 - 20/5/06 at 08:11 AM

Can i put the whole thing in, i dont really want to get water in it again?

chockymonster - 20/5/06 at 08:15 AM

Whip the back plate off the diff and clean the inside out with some petrol then spray it with machine oil to give it some protection from the elements.

If you look on the crown wheel when you take the back plate off you'll see the ratio stamped on it.
If it is a 3.14 you may have some troubles with the R1 as it will struggle a bit to pull the car with that ratio.

chockymonster - 20/5/06 at 08:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by peterriley2
Can i put the whole thing in, i dont really want to get water in it again?


I plugged the holes on the diff and gave it a bath in a caustic soda solution. You don't need power to clean the diff as it's alluminium and the caustic will react with it. I never fully submerged the diff always making sure the holes were above the water line.

Hellfire - 20/5/06 at 03:36 PM

I wouldn't worry at all if I were you. The chances of getting water inside it are pretty slim. Only way in for water is through the breather pipe on top. I wouldn't even bother taking the back-plate off to clean inside it. Just drain the old oil and refill with new.

Phil

Liam - 20/5/06 at 04:13 PM

Yeah i wouldn't worry at all. Any moisture (which is unavoidable since the diff is essentially open to the atmosphere through the breather) will just evaporate off under operating temperature. Think how long a diff would have to seriously rust for the big lumps of metal in it to significantly corrode to the point of not working properly. A tiny amount of surface rust on any teeth will just be rubbed off the first time you use the diff.

Liam