changing rear diff

Hi all.
This is my first post............
I have a 2005 pre face lift Jimny Mode hard top manual. Only done 16000 miles but the rear diff has
a knock when accelerating/decelerating and has been diagnose as slop/play in the diff. Has been like this for about 5000miles. I changed the diff oil and it came out like grey sludge. New oil just seemed to make things worse. The diff is staring to whine a bit now,
I have seen a rear diff for sale from a 2003 manual Jimny.
Just wondering if I could just swop the diffs over and if so how hard a job would it be.
Would it be easier to replace the whole axle instead as I have also seen these for sale occasionally.

Any advice gratefully received.

A diff swap is easier than an axle swap. Read the How To guides on changing rear brake shoes and wheel bearings and it'll take you through getting the rear shafts out. Then it's just a case of unbolting the rear prop and unbolting the rear diff.

Then bolt the new one in with some rtv sealant on the joint.

Put everything back and fill with oil.

Just be sure the diff you buy is good and has the same ratio. Autos are different to manuals and I think vvt engined cars are also different.

Get a breather on it then to stop water ingress again! I just use a length of hosepipe up into the boot.

Kirkynut

Thanks very much for the reply.

I have another question relating to the removal of the half shafts from the diff. My Jimny has ABS does this make the removal of the half shafts any more difficult.

Thanks

Check that its not just the flange nut that has come loose, you will need to remove the prop from the rear flange first.

Johnbrom wrote: Thanks very much for the reply.

I have another question relating to the removal of the half shafts from the diff. My Jimny has ABS does this make the removal of the half shafts any more difficult.

Thanks

No.

If you (like me) have brake shoes and a drum, then its about 1hr a side:

* Jack up car on Axle with axle stands
* Remove wheel
* Remove rear prop-shaft (before you do make markings so you know how it goes back)
* Remove Brake Drum
* Undo Handbrake cable from Rear Radius Arm
* Undo the FOUR nuts heads from behind brake plate
* Remove Brake cylinder pipes from rear brake plate - I put a short piece of pipe with a bolt at tone end over brake * pipes to stop fluid going everywhere

Using a slide-hammer, the shaft should come out, just enough to remove diff ...

If you want the whole shaft out, then you need to remove the brake shoes and the easiest way i have found it remove the brake cylinder then the shoes will come off intact, but first you need to dis-engage the handbrake cable - be ready to lose some knuckle skin. When cable off, the whole shaft with brake plate will come away from car.

Re-assembly is same in reverse.


HTH?

Or pay a good mechanic to do it for you and do an extra shift to pay for it. LOL
I am quite capable of doing jobs like this but would rather earn a bit more and pay someone else to skin their knuckles. Guess I am just not a grease monkey these days!