DaniC
Well-known member
Hi guys,
So yesterday as I was building my XTR I took the center diff out to check level of fluid and top it up with a bit of thicker oil. In principle, access to the diff is super easy, and it does come out fairly easily but I found putting the diff back in is a real pain. So much so that I was very close to giving up and going the long route of installing the center diff without the shafts and taking the rear and front diff cases off in order to put the shafts back in place.
I persevered and eventually I managed to get the diff in, but it feels very forced. It's all due to the amount of bracing in this truck, the shafts hits the bracing which limits the angle at which it can go up, and the fact that you have to slide the diff in straight and from the top of the motor mount.
Have others experienced the same? Am I doing something wrong? Any tricks to make this easier?
I feel like forcing the diff in like this has the potential of bending the shafts, and perhaps that's why there's a few reports of shaft that come bent from the factory, including mine.
So yesterday as I was building my XTR I took the center diff out to check level of fluid and top it up with a bit of thicker oil. In principle, access to the diff is super easy, and it does come out fairly easily but I found putting the diff back in is a real pain. So much so that I was very close to giving up and going the long route of installing the center diff without the shafts and taking the rear and front diff cases off in order to put the shafts back in place.
I persevered and eventually I managed to get the diff in, but it feels very forced. It's all due to the amount of bracing in this truck, the shafts hits the bracing which limits the angle at which it can go up, and the fact that you have to slide the diff in straight and from the top of the motor mount.
Have others experienced the same? Am I doing something wrong? Any tricks to make this easier?
I feel like forcing the diff in like this has the potential of bending the shafts, and perhaps that's why there's a few reports of shaft that come bent from the factory, including mine.