Front Differential Removal

[evomaki]

Hey Folks,

I need to get the front diff out of a parts car, a 96 Montero SR. I understand I should just take the entire carrier assembly. I am not sure if I need to remove the half shafts first, or can I "drop" the center assembly and release the splined half shafts out of the carrier that way? I'm obviously trying to do this in an expeditious way, and trying to avoid removing the half shaft from the diff (sort of the same routine as changing a half shaft). I'd rather like to remove the diff from the half shaft, if you guys get the drift, and leave the rest on the vehicle. Tried searching this topic but could not get this detail. Thanks,

 

[Michael Brown]

Not sure if anyone else with a Gen 2 will reply, but if you haven't already grabbed a FSM for your SR, then you should be able to find one in my sig. The FSM should have the diagrams to figure out if you can remove just the diff.

If it is anything like the Gen 3 IFS, then the diff and halfshaft tube are one piece that get removed together. The pictures I find look like the entire tube has to be removed because of the free-wheel clutch assembly on one side.

Gen 3


Gen 2

 

[plh]

Hey Folks,

I need to get the front diff out of a parts car, a 96 Montero SR. I understand I should just take the entire carrier assembly. I am not sure if I need to remove the half shafts first, or can I "drop" the center assembly and release the splined half shafts out of the carrier that way? I'm obviously trying to do this in an expeditious way, and trying to avoid removing the half shaft from the diff (sort of the same routine as changing a half shaft). I'd rather like to remove the diff from the half shaft, if you guys get the drift, and leave the rest on the vehicle. Tried searching this topic but could not get this detail. Thanks,

I've done both Gen 1 and Gen 2 a few times.

You will pretty much need to pull the driver side CV shaft out (separate ball joint(s)) Passenger side CV bolts to the jack shaft so you can unbolt there w/o un-doing ball joints.