How long does it take to swap an open diff for a torsen?
04-23-2018 | 11:15 AM
#1
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: New Tampa, FL
How long does it take to swap an open diff for a torsen?
2003 miata base. Driveway style, full sets of tools + jacks/jack stands. May get a full torsen in housing, may just get the guts. Roughly how long is the swap out?
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04-23-2018 | 01:23 PM
#7
if full differential:
drop exhaust. drop axles. drain/drop old diff. install/fill new diff. replace axles. replace exhaust.
estimated time: 1-2 hours
if pumpkin only:
drop exhaust. drop axles. drain/drop old diff. remove carrier from old diff. install carrier on new diff. install/fill new diff. replace axles. replace exhaust.
estimated time: 1.5-2.5 hours
if guts only:
drop exhaust. drop axles. drain/drop old diff. remove carrier from old diff. take old pumpkin and new guts to shop who can install/set the gears correctly. install carrier on new diff. install/fill new diff. replace axles. replace exhaust.
estimated time: ??? hours
biggest time wasters: the diff spacer is always a bitch, and sometimes axles wont release from hub.
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04-23-2018 | 01:40 PM
#8
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From: New Tampa, FL
Thanks, that helps. so then my only real decision is gear ratio, and whether I get one in the pumpkin or full differential, and of course what I can find available to buy either locally or shipped
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04-24-2018 | 09:24 PM
#9
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From: NYC
if guts only:
drop exhaust. drop axles. drain/drop old diff. remove carrier from old diff. take old pumpkin to friends garage who has a 20 ton press and swears it's no big thang, he totally swapped gears on his mustang in high school and he KILLED it at the 1/8th, got him a sweet handy. Plus, there's like guides on the internet. Who can't follow a pictorial post from m.net garage bullshit section? Those m.netters are super smart and nerdy, they must be good at this. Just don't forget to BLUE THE GEAR AND ADJUST. So, unbolt the ring. Yeah yeah, just grab your 3/8" wrench and unbolt it. Wait, how the **** do you hold the diff in place? UGH WE NEED A BIGGER VICE. Ok, other buddy drove over, ring is off, now just let the pinion slide out. wtf. Pull, pull, why isn't this dropping out? dafuq, how many of these are pressed in?? I need to custom make some ******* metal jig to grab hold of the pinion? ***SPEND AN HOUR GRINDING RANDOM METAL LAYING AROUND YOUR SHED*** Realize you're 7 beers in and yeah pretty tipsy. Ok, you're drunk and it's dark out. Go to bed, disappoint gf but even a little more this time. Wake up, you got this man!! Start bolting **** back together. Oh yeah, your 20 ton press is killing it, MVP. Line gears up, eyeball it because you can't really figure out the dial indicator you bought from harbor freight. "It looks FINE man, we measured the distance diagonally and it's the same as it was before so you're golden." Torque everything, at least you did that right. Reinstall diff into car. Go for a drive, super giddy. Get up to 35 mph. rurrrrhhhh. Get up to 70 mph RURHRURHRUHRURHRURHR. Post on mt.net, blaming the noise on the poly diff bushings. Give little info on other changes. Fail to mention you did it yourself. Yell at Savington when he tells you poly bushings shouldn't make your diff louder. HE'S TOTALLY WRONG WHY ISN'T HE CONFIRMING MY BIAS? Blame everyone else. Use kindergarten grammar, spell **** wrong and don't punctuate. Get banned after calling a mod power hungry. Die. Mom sells car on craigslist, snagged up by darling little turbo kitten with a cute white tipped tail. Hears diff makes noise on first drive and rationally decides it's well worth the Benjamin or two to take pumkin and new guts to shop who can install/set the gears correctly. install carrier on new diff. install/fill new diff. replace axles. replace exhaust.
estimated time: ??? hours
drop exhaust. drop axles. drain/drop old diff. remove carrier from old diff. take old pumpkin to friends garage who has a 20 ton press and swears it's no big thang, he totally swapped gears on his mustang in high school and he KILLED it at the 1/8th, got him a sweet handy. Plus, there's like guides on the internet. Who can't follow a pictorial post from m.net garage bullshit section? Those m.netters are super smart and nerdy, they must be good at this. Just don't forget to BLUE THE GEAR AND ADJUST. So, unbolt the ring. Yeah yeah, just grab your 3/8" wrench and unbolt it. Wait, how the **** do you hold the diff in place? UGH WE NEED A BIGGER VICE. Ok, other buddy drove over, ring is off, now just let the pinion slide out. wtf. Pull, pull, why isn't this dropping out? dafuq, how many of these are pressed in?? I need to custom make some ******* metal jig to grab hold of the pinion? ***SPEND AN HOUR GRINDING RANDOM METAL LAYING AROUND YOUR SHED*** Realize you're 7 beers in and yeah pretty tipsy. Ok, you're drunk and it's dark out. Go to bed, disappoint gf but even a little more this time. Wake up, you got this man!! Start bolting **** back together. Oh yeah, your 20 ton press is killing it, MVP. Line gears up, eyeball it because you can't really figure out the dial indicator you bought from harbor freight. "It looks FINE man, we measured the distance diagonally and it's the same as it was before so you're golden." Torque everything, at least you did that right. Reinstall diff into car. Go for a drive, super giddy. Get up to 35 mph. rurrrrhhhh. Get up to 70 mph RURHRURHRUHRURHRURHR. Post on mt.net, blaming the noise on the poly diff bushings. Give little info on other changes. Fail to mention you did it yourself. Yell at Savington when he tells you poly bushings shouldn't make your diff louder. HE'S TOTALLY WRONG WHY ISN'T HE CONFIRMING MY BIAS? Blame everyone else. Use kindergarten grammar, spell **** wrong and don't punctuate. Get banned after calling a mod power hungry. Die. Mom sells car on craigslist, snagged up by darling little turbo kitten with a cute white tipped tail. Hears diff makes noise on first drive and rationally decides it's well worth the Benjamin or two to take pumkin and new guts to shop who can install/set the gears correctly. install carrier on new diff. install/fill new diff. replace axles. replace exhaust.
estimated time: ??? hours
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04-25-2018 | 07:28 PM
#12
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From: Canberra, sort of
When we are talking 'drop axles', we do mean 'remove axles from diff', don't we? NOT 'remove axles from hubs'.
That's the way I do it anyway. Only trick then is to get circlips aligned properly when re-installing.
That's the way I do it anyway. Only trick then is to get circlips aligned properly when re-installing.
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04-25-2018 | 10:27 PM
#14
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
So the two different axle types have no effect on the procedure?
Seems we are talking like they do not, here.
I personally like to remove the entire thing. You can do a better RTV job and reinstalling the fluid is not a major PITA when the diff is out.
Like others said. Remove the PPF from the trans and take it off with the diff. I find that to be much easier. You can remove one bolt (further rear, maybe?) from the diff to help make the PPF swing to the side easier.
I've gotten the job down to around 2 hours / beers. It took about 4 - 5 hours my first time though, everything frozen and i was new at it.
Seems we are talking like they do not, here.
I personally like to remove the entire thing. You can do a better RTV job and reinstalling the fluid is not a major PITA when the diff is out.
Like others said. Remove the PPF from the trans and take it off with the diff. I find that to be much easier. You can remove one bolt (further rear, maybe?) from the diff to help make the PPF swing to the side easier.
I've gotten the job down to around 2 hours / beers. It took about 4 - 5 hours my first time though, everything frozen and i was new at it.
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04-26-2018 | 03:33 AM
#19
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From: Canberra, sort of
No way
I agree with the proposition to remove the housing with the PPF attached, that press-fit sleeve is a bastard to get out in situ.
Of course, you could remove the upright and axles as complete units, that's only undoing another suspension bolt, and taking the brake caliper off (or not). The axles I have known have not wished to be separated, resisting mightily ...
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04-26-2018 | 09:29 AM
#20
if two-piece, then I liked to unbolt the studs on the half-shaft, then punch out 2-3 of the studs on either side so the axles can be removed and pushed out of the way.
if one-piece, you gotta remove them from the hub. But unbolting the upper sounds like a better solution. I've only done upgrades from 1.6L rears, and had to remove everything anyway, so I'll yield on the best way to do these.
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