Hi all, I have a defender 90 2.2 puma and have noticed the rear diff is leaking so I have purchased a new seal and flange but not sure how to make sure when fitting that I get the preload correct so not to damage the bearings! Can anyone help the best way to achieve this? Many thanks
Hi, it’s leaking a rusty coloured oil from the front where the prop shaft attaches, Iv heard you have to mark the nut and flange and count the turns of the nut so nut to crush the bearings when re installed! Is this not correct?
No that's not correct, there is a torque setting ....
Step 1 is drain the oil from the diff. Undo the plug half way up the back.
Put a bowl under the diff and undo the bottom drain plug.
When all the oil has stopped dribbling out, refit the drain plug in the bottom. No seal required as its a tapered plug. New ones are only a few quid.
Take off the prop shaft, you will see a nut, I think its 24mm (? - not sure)
Make sure the wheels are chocked and the car can't move and using a big bar crack the nut off.
When undone everything pulls out, you may need a big screwdriver to get the old seal out.
Leave everything behind the seal in place.
Fit new seal (small hammer, M8 bolt, gentle tappling)
Fit flange (often nothing wrong with the old one but new one doesn't hurt).
Tighten the bolt back up to 129NM (you should look that up as I have only done this on 200/300tdi and TD5's)
Refill diff with EP90 (cats pi55 oil) until it leaks out the filler plug.
Refit filler plug.
Refit prop shaft to flange (47NM)
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