Thread: disco rear diff donut guide removal

generally I grab them with my welding vice grips and then belt the buggery out of it in a circle if you dont want to save it.

fit that fails, heat the flange with a hot air gun and go again...

if that fails make up a puller like you're supposed to.

once its out replace all the parts but hang onto the 3 bolt flange, you may need the slinger off of it to take the place of the slinger on the 4 bolt flange.

Thanks Dave, I have a hot spanner so will give it a mild heat up and then belt it.

Undo the tail shaft from the brake drum and remove rear axles, undo all bolts holding in the diff, toss the whole lot in the steel scrap bin and go get the one with the damn Uni joint on it.

That damn rubber ring is a PITA, I have lost count of how many I had to replace before I changed my diff and tail shaft and have forgotten all about it until now.

You can go to all the trouble of just changing the drive flange but it's pretty cheap and easy to just throw in the whole diff assembly and keep the other as a spare complete unit behind the shed.

Cheers Casper

hmm an $800 minimum fix vs a $400 one if your using new parts. (and thats after the refund for a complete exchange diff.

I am surprised this keeps coming up as an issue.

I have got a fair bit of spring lift in the rear (as in cross a 100 series LC arse with a horse in season... now double it) and my donut is perfectly fine, haven't changed it in the 120,000+ km I've had the car (could even be original)

It's worth noting that these same donuts have been used on BMWs and on both ends of the shaft on Mercs since the seventies putting out up to 550Nm.

Is everyone using the OE German made one or the much cheaper crappy ones?

Only Buy GKN made in Germany ones, all others are not same quality.
I have compared GKN and aftermarket ones, GKN are stiff rubber, the cheaper ones I was able to flex using my one hands, a big shock when you actually have them both in hand

Only Buy GKN made in Germany ones, all others are not same quality.
I have compared GKN and aftermarket ones, GKN are stiff rubber, the cheaper ones I was able to flex using my own hands, a big shock when you actually have them both in hand