Thread: Front diff yoke movement.

Hi Pete
there shouldn't be any discernible movement. From your description it seems that the diff pinion is moving in its bearing, or the bearing itself is moving in the diff housing, or the yoke is moving on the pinion shaft.
If you remove the track rod, drain the diff oil, remove the brakes and hub assembly and pull the axles, remove the front propeller shaft, then undo the 10 bolts around the diff casing... you can pull out the diff.

I'd then take it to a diff specialist and get them to fit a new bearing/yoke...
I've never done this repair but it seems feasible for DIY as far as remove/replace if someone with the right tools can do the yoke/bearing repair...
Good luck with it

Thanks Hoges, great advice as always!
Yes I was thinking that might be the way to go, remove it myself and take it to a specialist.
I didn't think movement was a good thing, I could probably just get the diff center reco'd.
Will have to find a specialist not too far away.

If you are sure its the diff I would think long and hard about changing the bearings, there are two on the pinion ( 4 pin diffs not sure on 2 pin). I could not source them in Australia even having them in my hand with part numbers. Very expensive, They are shimmed, again a problem getting them. Ended up making them. Why not look out for a second hand diff.

Good point wayneg, maybe I could drop in a good second hand diff centre instead of recoing the existing one.
Does anyone know if P38 diff centres are all the same through the years?

3-4mm is an awful lot of movement.
I'm surprised the first sign of this wasn't a massive leak from the diff as the seal would be chewed out in no time.

Thought about a locker? Good time to fit it up if you've ever wanted one...

Just get one of the replacement centres with locker from Ashcroft, this solves all the issues with these diffs doesn't it?

Are the front and rear pinions the same? Ie, are the front reverse cut?