changing a vn diff

[milkandjuicecomein2litres]

Hey guys I got a 89 5 litre wagon with a diff that's been whining for a while now, it has gotten 2 the point where im losing power on take off because it lags.

I brought a new diff the other day, the full back end axels rotors and all, but me and my mates have no idea how to put it on, if anyone knows how to take out the backend of a vn or has replaced a diff before any help would be great. I hear its a bit of a job but im up 4 it, got all the equopment for it and yes im replacing the whole back end. Any instructions on how to do it would be great!! Thanks guys!!

[padrickz88]

im not 100% but im pretty sure its only upper control arms, lower control arms and shocker's that needs to be disconnected?

oh wait! and you brake lines but they shouldn't be that much stuffing around

[Morton]

Nah, it's too easy. You just need a few spanners and a jack.

You need to unbolt the tailshaft, unbolt the control arms and trailing arms, disconnect the brake lines, disconnect the shocks (last) and it should fall out

[padrickz88]

lmao im such an idiot, i completely forgot about the tail shaft hahaha

[Phat VN]

i changed mine the other week i put a vs diff its upper and lower control arms brake linings, sway bar, pan hard rod, tail shaft, shockers and a jack its just mainly spanners its a pretty easy job just need to no wat ur doin it took me and my mate bout 6-7 hours it went pretty fast though but good luck wif it m8

[umopepisdn]

one thing you should take note of when tightening the upper and lower trailing arms, do so in the correct ride height not on stands or a jack, otherwise the bushes are preloaded and will fail early.

[social]

well if you have a whining nosie coking from your diff, maybe its just the diff centre? if so i got a how yo remove one right here ...
basically jack your car up, chuck stands in, off with the wheels, off with your brake calipers, unbolt the brake disc, get that off, then once its off put it on backwards and put on 3 wheel nuts only a FEW rotations onto the spline, no with that gap between the axel and the wheel nuts, pull and pull until the axel comes out, repeat with both sides. now chuck a oil pan under ur diff centre, lightly undo the bolts around it, disconnect your panard rod, it gets in the way, now open the diff cover and oil will spill out, when its basically mostly out, get your sockets and undo the 2 side caseings (4 bolts total) then wedge for an example an extention bar to the right or left underneath the centre and lever it out, note not breaking the shims (small circle pieces on either side) take note that the diff centre is quite heavy.

But that would be if your taking the dif centre out lol gdluk tho.

[Phat VN]

but u dont no if one of the bearings have gone wouldn u b better off buyin a complete unit

[social]

well if you think about it, the only bearings in the diff are in the diff centre and the tailshaft part that joins onto the spline...unless the diff caseing is damaged in some way, shouldnt u just be able to swap the diff centre over?

[milkandjuicecomein2litres]

Yeah im told its the diff centre, but that'd itd b quicker to change the whole unit, I got told should take 3 to4 hours with 4 ppl, sound right? Its going in 2moro so ill let u know how I go!!

[padrickz88]

nah, shouldnt take that long

[social]

can get it down to a 45min job getting it out and pretty much same thing getting another in on a vn diff centre swap, teaches u a fair bit on how the rear end works too opening it up and only takes 1 to 2 ppl depending on if ur weak or not hehe, but seriously go for the diff centre first if its too hard, then dnt even bother wid removing the whole unit.

[Morton]

Yeah I was gonna say, even the first time I did it by myself, it only took 30min to drop out. Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours with four people, even if you're faffing about.