help! - idiot axle case swapping

In my rebuilding of Edith her rear axle case was knacked, so I've bought a good salvage item.

I've bought all the new gaskets, washers, seals, studs, bolts etc and know how to remove the halfshafts, stub axles etc - but my books don't say a thing about removing the actual differential, saying helpful stuff like "go to your dealer, it is too hard to refurbish a diff"...

I don't want to refurbish it, just transfer it from one axle case to another, so I'm hoping that once having removed the halfshafts, it's just a case of undoing the circle of bolts holding the diff casing to the axle, and the diff casing will come off complete wityh differential?? Please say it's so.

The parts manual shows everything exploding, but thats just to show parts - will it transfer as a complete unit?

Finally the books talk about replacing the gaskets. Do you also use gasket sealant on the paper, or just wet the cardboard / papery things with a bit of oil? Or just use the paper gaskets as is?

Finally I'm assuming reassembly is a case of diff first, then halfshafts etc?

Thanks - prior to taking on this rebuild, the most difficult mechanical task I'd done was a minor service...

which axle yu got - Rover?

if so remove half shafts
remove ring of bolts around "nose" of diff
support nose on trolley jack
carefully lower trolley jack and diff will fall on your hands and break fingers!:ek::eek

It IS heavy!

Thanks for that - a basic rover rear axle with drums.

I'm concerned with having to break my fingers though. Still, I'll stare some more at your avatar and the pain will go away...

it really is a piece of ****. just watch that thing when it is free.

what about if the axles out ? and it falls on your toes ? and you havent got toe caps on ? broken toes ????

mark 4x4 said:

what about if the axles out ? and it falls on your toes ? and you havent got toe caps on ? broken toes ????

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Then don't go to the hospital!!! Ye sit around for ages and then sum one comes along and bind yer tootsies together with sticky tape and tells ye tae bugger off