Thread: Bent rear diff

Could be wrong but I doubt the reversing idea would help. Probably help make it worse.

Originally Posted by Bren

Hi,
I have posted about this a couple of weeks ago and have had a wheel joint measure, and yes I have a bent rear diff which is about 20mm toe in. Have searched underneath for the culprit ding and have found a bit of a divit.
Anyway how hard is it to straighten, or should I buy a second hand one. I was thinking of reversing into something of the ideal height to give it smack back in line.

Any ideas would be great. Off to Fraser this week so wont be happening for a while.

Cheers

You have nothing to lose - so tie a big solid rope round a big, solid item (big tree, large concrete stump - nothing that is going to snap off) and tie the other end to the extreeme end of the offending item - put it into 4 wd (if not already), low ratio and very slowly try and pull the bugger straight.

May work, may not - but what have you got to lose

My thoughts exactly Ladas except the diff has to be bent forward in the centre to toe it out the couple of cm. Not sure how tough the diffs are though.

if the rope doesnt break or pull the tree out...you will only succeed in ripping the diff out.....
or breaking something else......


things dont bend easy intentionally......its all murphys fault......
there are places that can straighten diff housings......but i think it would be cheaper to just replace the housing......
you can use all the guts out of yours in the new housing......

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

if the rope doesnt break or pull the tree out...you will only succeed in ripping the diff out.....
or breaking something else......


things dont bend easy intentionally......its all murphys fault......
there are places that can straighten diff housings......but i think it would be cheaper to just replace the housing......
you can use all the guts out of yours in the new housing......

that bloody Murphy gets everwhere - the little tinker.

I was working on a previous experience with an old lotus cortina i have.

hit a donkin great rock on a 'silly trip' - diff/axle all out of line - I was 20 at the time absolutely no dosh - and I needed to get to work the next morning.

It worked for me (on a very old (circa 1968) ford) and it never caused me problems after.

If they bent one way - they should bend back despite Murphy, but I bow to your better knowledge

You could always try a large steel 'I' beam, some good chain and a 20t bottle jack.
Have seen something similar in wheel alignment shop, used on 4bys with bent front housings.
chain is attached to I beam and wraps around diff tubes at either end, jack is placed on offending spot and jacked till straight (slowly)...
apparently it works ok.

Originally Posted by Sandtoyz

You could always try a large steel 'I' beam, some good chain and a 20t bottle jack.
Have seen something similar in wheel alignment shop, used on 4bys with bent front housings.
chain is attached to I beam and wraps around diff tubes at either end, jack is placed on offending spot and jacked till straight (slowly)...
apparently it works ok.

Been there done this. Works enough to get you home... a pair of drag chains and dogs ,a length of railway line and a couple of sections out of a good redwood tree.

put the axle parallel to the railway line with the bend up in the middle

place the redwood sections between em and use the chains and dogs to hold the whole kit and kaboodle in place (get at least 3 turns round)

insert 20t jack in the middle and jack slowly.

hi there, trying to straighten it yourself on a rock or a tree is ok for emergency repairs, but you wont get it back to spec. if you continue to drive the vehicle in that condition and you have an accident your insurence company will refuse to pay up because the vehicle was already damaged.

my disco had a bent rear diff a couple of years ago it got side swiped while parked, drove it home to wollongong from sydney what a nightmare. anyway it cost 3 grand to strip repair and rebuild the diff. lucky i was insured.

so you only have 3 good options, strip the diff yourself and get repaired buy a second hand housing and hope for the best or take it to a mechanic and let them do the job. best thing to do is get a few prices on all your options and go from there.

good luck

jeff