S3 Diff problem. (AKA Im losing my mind!!)

Am I going completely mad!!! Landrover differential problem.

I am the proud owner of an elderly (1973) 88 Series three. I have owned it for about 10 years.

It’s a bit of a marmite relationship. I like it but my with and neighbours hate it!

The problem I’m currently dealing with relates to the rear diff. It was leaking oil very badly from input bearing oil seal and throwing it around the underside of the body and exhaust. I obtained an oil seal and started on my mission to cure this particular element of incontinence.

The job was probably going to take an hour or so-what could possibly go wrong!

In no time at all a ham fisted, short sighted Liverpudian moron managed to destroy the bearing behind the oil seal! Everything got removed in small bits! A prompt look on Ebay revealed that a bearing could be supplied for about £15.00 so not the end of the world.

The bearing was duly obtained (part number confirmed as (FRC4586). This won’t take long to get it all back together me thinks!

Au contrare! The bearing slid neatly down the shaft into the diff but appears to be too wide (Landy Porn!) in there isn’t sufficient room to get the oil seal in place (size matters!). I thought I may be going mad but as the old bearing was in bits it had been discarded hence I couldn’t make any comparisons. By chance I still had the internal sleeve of the old bearing (sorry not explaining this very well) which is the inner part of the bearing that slides over the input shaft.

By comparing this with the new bearing it does appear that the old one is 4-5 mm shorter than the replacement bearing. (This is the same distance by which the oil seal protrudes)

I cant find any information which shows the bearing being any different on S2 or S3 or classic range rovers!

I’m a bit stuck. Any ideas? Suggestions? Or just general sarcasm and humour appreciated.


Cheers

Having read your post I'm almost afraid to ask... How did you get the outer bearing race out? Did you get the outer race out? FRC4586 is not a bearing but the seal. Bearing is 539707. This is a big job you face if you have indeed scrapped the outer pinion shaft bearing and can't be done from outside the diff. Frankly your post doesn't make much sense to me and I hope this is just a problem with incorrect definition of terms.

Do you have a parts manual and workshop manual? As responded your post is a wee bit confusing.

Do you have a parts manual and workshop manual? As responded your post is a wee bit confusing.

There is a simple answer to this: stuff another diff in it; there are plenty of Rover diffs around and not too expensive.

Thanks for the replies Gents. I will post a couple of photos this evening which should help to explain my predicament and stupidity! Regards. Mike.

I sympathise with your woes. I have learnt (the hard way) that it is always best to take lots of pics of the assembly before dismantling and then more pics as the dismantling progresses. I've got an appalling memory and I very quickly forget which way round things are supposed to go back. Also, I never dispose of old parts until the new parts are in and working.

Col

I think I may have learned a very valuable lesson. The good news is that I have managed to get another diff which I hope is OK and should save some time and money. Thanks for your comments and support. Much appreciated. Cheers Mike

That's your best option, good luck with it.