serious trans/awd system question PLEASE HELP

aronic1420 · #1 01-17-2007, 08:36 AM

my front differential detonated in my 92 svx , im getting the run around by salvage yards. some telling me that you cannot sperate the diff from the tranny and some saying you can .. some one with some knowledge please let me know what i need to do about replacing my front differential.. do i need to replace my tranny too? i need help tell me what i need to do thank youu aaron from mass

davew833 · #2 01-17-2007, 09:49 AM

Yes, the front diff can be separated from the tranny and replaced. It requires dropping the tranny, so it's not easy work, but it can be done. I've done it myself and there's a write-up here on the board somewhere (not mine). I bought my front diff from a member of the board here, but you're not likely to find a junkyard that will separate one from a good tranny and sell it that way-- too much work for them and then they're stuck with a tranny they can't sell. Post a "want to buy" ad in the appropriate section here and someone will help. I got mine for about $200 shipped-- much less than a whole tranny!

AFBeefcake · #3 01-17-2007, 10:18 AM

I mite have one. I am doing a 5 speed swap and my 4EAT is siting on the floor next to my car right now. I would have to take it apart to check the diff first.

rallyingrob · #4 01-17-2007, 10:55 AM

this begs the question........the 5 mt has ummmmm.........3.90 gears doesnt it?

will 4.44's fit the 5mt?

even if the ring gear fits........would the pinion?
i havent had the opportunity yet to tear into a 5mt so i have no real idea what it looks like internally......

TomsSVX · #5 01-17-2007, 11:18 AM

Ok... The front diff is very simple in design. This simplicity begs for difficulty in some aspect. That would be setting the gears properly. I have done several front diff repairs in the past and there is a certain procedure you MUST follow in order to have the gears set properly so they do not fail again. Search some of the posts and you will find answers.

Rob, the 5mt transmissions are setup similar to the auto's in overall design but the internals are very different. There are 4.11 gears in many 5mt's which give you more than enough acceleration. 4.44's would just be overkill. It owuld be like having a 6mt without a 6th gear

Tom

rallyingrob · #6 01-17-2007, 06:27 PM

as mr burns would say..........."EXXXcellent!!"

hehehe
rob"too much is NEVER quite enuff"m.

AFBeefcake · #7 01-17-2007, 08:42 PM

I tried pulling the front diff off of my 4eat. I got all of the bolts out and it does not want to come off. I'll have to try again on friday if I have time.

On a side note I now know why my car felt like it was only front wheel drive the last couple times I drove it. The input gear to the viscous clutch was sheared off at the welds.

So the front diff should be good. I just have to get the case open. Any one want anything else off this transmission?

TomsSVX · #8 01-17-2007, 10:05 PM

you did get the 4 bolts on the front of the oil pump housing right?? Make sure that you see and keep all the shims if you do decide to sell it.

Oh, and the sheared off clutch drum is very common... Did you ever experience any binding with that trans??

Tom

AFBeefcake · #9 01-18-2007, 07:02 AM

I'll have to look for those 4 other bolts. I don't remember taking any bolts out from the front. Saving all of the shims and selling it is the plan. I am trying to offset the cost of the 5 speed swap.

I don't think I've ever had any binding that I remember, just slipping between gears.

aronic1420 · #10 01-18-2007, 01:06 PM

so does anyone have a front differential to sell

TomsSVX · #11 01-18-2007, 03:13 PM

I might... but not right now... I need to fix one trans and make it good again so I can sell the whole thing, then I need to disassemble my other... If it has a good diff I will sell it

Tom

NeedForSpeed · #12 01-19-2007, 12:22 AM

Tom,

Did you post that if one swaps the front diff, as long as you use the shim that was installed with the donor pinion shaft, everything bolts up without further adjustment?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

Ok... The front diff is very simple in design. This simplicity begs for difficulty in some aspect. That would be setting the gears properly. I have done several front diff repairs in the past and there is a certain procedure you MUST follow in order to have the gears set properly so they do not fail again. Search some of the posts and you will find answers.

Tom

TomsSVX · #13 01-19-2007, 07:23 AM

You need to use the shim that is on the front diff you bought... You also need to use the same diff case from the donor tranny. They are not always perfect... sometimes you still want to check backlash

Tom

TomsSVX · #14 01-19-2007, 07:32 AM

Here is a pic of the front side of a dead pinion gear... You can see the 4 bolts that go around the bearing... Hope this grainy cell phone pic helps

Tom

AFBeefcake · #15 01-19-2007, 08:43 PM

I got the front diff free and it looks all good.