Diff casing locating dowels

[rfurzer]

I have a reasonable series 2 front end that I am cannibalizing the diff from. To my surprise the "new" donor one doesn't have the two locating dowel holes.

All of my various manuals show those dowels in later series.

Odd. But the main issue is how do I get the dowels out of my Recipient series 1 86 axle case?

Russ

[chazza]

How strange! They haven't been broken off; full of dirt, or been filed flat or something have they?

The dowels are really an essential part of any assembly as the fastening studs cannot locate the diff-carrier exactly where it should be; this is because the carrier has clearance holes in it, which are bigger than the studs.

If you can't find any holes in the new carrier, you may be better off reconditioning the old one,

Cheers Charlie

[rfurzer]

Thanks Charlie

I had thought it strange too and wondered if those dowels were omitted in later models or sumpfink.

I have had a closer look. The diff itself has no trace of a hole (just a dirt mark from the hole in the gasket, which wiped off to show the virgin machined surface. No trace of filing or other bodges.

The axle casing was the same- no hole ever there

Was this a Friday arvo special, or did a work experience student omit the holes in the diff- making it simpler to leave out the dowels.

It clearly didn't matter because my donor Landy lived to a ripe old age and died of rust. Perhaps the dowels aren't critical after all.

Pragmatism leads me to consider removing my dowels from the recipient axle casing and using the (excellent) donor diff rather than rebuilding the original one or looking for a second donor ( which I'd do if convinced it was unacceptable to use the no-dowel one)

Are those dowels pressed or screwed (or other) into the axle casing?

Russ

[chazza]

They are light-press-fit, so you should be able to pull them out using an impact-tool. I made one which attaches to a pair of vice-grips and uses a sliding weight,

Cheers Charlie

PS Just had a thought; possibly one of the studs is a special size to fit - such as what was done on the swivel pins.

[rfurzer]

Yep, got em moving with a vice grip and a twisting/ pulling routine. EZPZ

[JDNSW]

I am pretty certain that somewhere about Series 2 time the dowels were discarded in favour of fitted special studs in a couple of the positions. If you look carefully at the studs on the donor, you should be able to confirm this.

John

[MuckUte]

My 2a diffs have no dowels or anywhere to fit them in either the carrier or housing.

[Drew Parker]

I suspect he means the one or two of the studs are probably offset to ensure alignment of the diff without needing dowels....

[JDNSW]

I suspect he means the one or two of the studs are probably offset to ensure alignment of the diff without needing dowels....

Not exactly, I think they arelarger diameter on the unthreaded bit and are a close fit to the holes. Check the diameter of the ones on the donor.

John

[rfurzer]

No, Theres no unthreaded portion of the studs on the donor unit. They are secured in a different way to the s1 too. The s1 has hexagonal head 'bolts' with lock wire btw pairs. The newer donor has lower profile heads that are secured by some other means.

There is basically zero freedom of movement of the diff on the s1 axle case with the dowels removed and the half shafts slip in normally. I suspect that ten studs give pretty good localization.