Here's a short summary of the steps
that I took to
replace the stock Differential (3.64:1)
of my
1984 318i with a Limited Slip (3.73:1)
Differential out of a 318is.
*** This is only a summary...
not a complete 'How-To'. Not all differential
Removals & Installations
will be the same or use the same procedures.
Stick to common sense, your service
manual and above all THINK
SAFETY.... and then have fun
with your new diff!!! ***
Loading pictures.....
Ideally... you will want to have a hoist available.
If you do not have access
to a hoist..... lift and support the car at least 2
feet front and back
and set the car on 4 jack stands or blocks of wood.
Here are a couple of shots of the OLD diff .... notice
the oil leaking from the drive axle flange seals.
The Limited Slip Diff waiting to be installed.....
and the drive axles disconnected.
(The Drive Axles are held on
by 6 bolts at each CV Joint....
...8mm Allen Key or Hex Head
Socket with a bit of muscle will break them loose)
With the upper 4 support bolts (19mm Hex) and the 4
Drive shaft Flange nuts (17mm Hex) removed....
....support the diff with a floor jack and remove the
remaining 19mm Hex bolt & nut
at the Differential Carrier Bushing.... and then slowly
lower the diff.
With the differential out (left) you can see the support
holes for the carrier (top left), the center drive shaft
joke/flange (bottom center) that mounts to the differential
input flange and the Drive axles (one
on either side of the center joke/flange).
(Now would be a good time to
remove those two drive axles to clean and re-pack the CV Joints.
Check with your local Parts Supplier
or Club Sponsors for new or reconditioned Axle Shafts)
The old diff was out of the car with in 1/2 hr....
when installing the LSD,
I had to remove
the sheet metal (protects the
drive shafts from the heat of the exhaust) and the
drive shafts to allow the mounting
holes of the new diff to line-up.
With the drive shafts removed,
I was able to get at the 'clamping nut' so that
I could loosen it and then slide
the rear shaft forward along the
splines to create more clearance
for the diff.
*** By removing the exhaust (I
did not) and then the sheet metal, you can get at the clamping
nut without having to remove
the drive shaft. But it might be easier to hold the shaft and
free-up the nut with the drive
shaft removed and secured & supported in a vice. ***
Once the new LSD was installed, all I had to do was to re-install
the drive shaft, sheet metal,
attach the drive axles, speed
sensor and give it a quick paint job.
(Be sure to check the fluid level
as well before you have fun with your new Diff!!!)
A 4 min (1.5mb) Real
Player video of the re & re can
be viewed here.
The Hi-res AVI is 50MB in size
and is available on CD
for those who want it.....
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