Tips on lifting in rear diff

[cjgad]

Any tips on putting in a rear diff by yourself? Car is up on Jack stands, but there’s not a ton of room under there. I got the old diff out, which I just dropped onto some lumber. Trying to the lift the new rear differential into place laying on my back with it by my side is not going well, just not a good spot to lift that kind of weight. I don’t have the room to put it on my chest and slide under the car. Two people might be the answer, or getting the car up higher so I can make some kind of table to put on my Jack to slide it under there and lift the diff up on the table and try to slide it on. Just didn’t know if anyone had any tricks.

 

[toolmanmike]

Balance it on a floor jack. The whole assembly? Do you have the leaf springs disconnected at the rear? If you do you can bolt the wheels on and roll it into place.

 

[cjgad]

Balance it on a floor jack. The whole assembly? Do you have the leaf springs disconnected at the rear? If you do you can bolt the wheels on and roll it into place.

It’s just the carrier Im putting in. I’ll have to get the car up higher so I can roll it under on a floor Jack. I’ll see if I can get it to fit under tonight. My exhaust also hangs kind of low so I can’t go through the side or under the rear end with it on a Jack currently.

 

[toolmanmike]

It’s just the carrier Im putting in. I’ll have to get the car up higher so I can roll it under on a floor Jack. I’ll see if I can get it to fit under tonight. My exhaust also hangs kind of low so I can’t go through the side or under the rear end with it on a Jack currently.

Just be safe and use some heavy jack stands. I would recommend 6 ton or bigger. Yes, you can balance the carrier on the pad of a floor jack as long as the jack is big enough.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Use an Aluminum carrier?

 

[road robert]

Hey cjgad, I recently swapped my 3rd member "solo" and used this method to remove and install - here are my tips:
1. Get the car up high enough to operate effectively. I put drive up ramps under the front wheels wheels and purchased these tall sturdy jack stands from Harbor freight to hold up the rear frame in fromt of the axle. I let the axle drop all the way down for easier access and put a second set (shorter) under that as additional safety (I first raised the car, secured with stands then raised again usinf a 4" x 4" block fore additional height):

2. I put the 3rd member on a foam pad and used a heavy duty bungee cord to strap it to my floor jack (my old jack has a nice size dish cup) then rolled it under and could adjust the height with only the bottom half of jack handle. It was still a struggle but doable and much safer than trying to bech press it up and in:

3. *Tip I used a 1" x 2" strip of wood to hold the driveshat up out of the way above the mufflers:

 

[cjgad]

Just be safe and use some heavy jack stands. I would recommend 6 ton or bigger. Yes, you can balance the carrier on the pad of a floor jack as long as the jack is big enough.

Yes I have 6 ton stands. Right now they are under the axle not extended. I can probably first try lifting the front and putting my ramps under there tires to see if I can roll the carrier in up towards the front. I don’t always feel good working under stands extended too far.

 

[toolmanmike]

You could put the stands under the front spring hanger area and let the axle hang down. That may give you the room you need.

 

[cjgad]

Hey cjgad, I recently swapped my 3rd member "solo" and used this method to remove and install - here are my tips:
1. Get the car up high enough to operate effectively. I put drive up ramps under the front wheels wheels and purchased these tall sturdy jack stands from Harbor freight to hold up the rear frame in fromt of the axle. I let the axle drop all the way down for easier access and put a second set (shorter) under that as additional safety (I first raised the car, secured with stands then raised again usinf a 4" x 4" block fore additional height):
View attachment 1894361
2. I put the 3rd member on a foam pad and used a heavy duty bungee cord to strap it to my floor jack (my old jack has a nice size dish cup) then rolled it under and could adjust the height with only the bottom half of jack handle. It was still a struggle but doable and much safer than trying to bech press it up and in:
View attachment 1894362
View attachment 1894363
3. *Tip I used a 1" x 2" strip of wood to hold the driveshat up out of the way above the mufflers:
View attachment 1894364

Thank you! Good tips. With the old carrier out, do you see any issue with using the rear end to pick the car up further with a jack? Not sure how much structure the carrier gives the housing.

 

[cjgad]

You could put the stands under the front spring hanger area and let the axle hang down. That may give you the room you need.

I’ll try that

 

[33 IMP]

Use an Aluminum carrier?

Probably not a valid solution, LOL.
I've got an aluminum center with a spool for my nine inch, and it surprised me how little weight was saved. Even without a lsd, it's still not "light", just lighter.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

On a Jack & lift it SLOW. Road Roberts idea of strapping it to the Jack is a GREAT idea. I think I used a transmission adapter for my floor Jack (1-1/2 square)

 

[33 IMP]

In my opinion....
Get it as high as you can safely (6 ton hf jackstands are quite a bit taller and more stable than their 3 ton. Handy for work on my pickups, even if I don't need the extra weight rating)
I don't let the rear hang, it leaves less room to crawl under, and move the chunk under too. If the area above the rear is tight, I might change my mind about that.
Then roll the center under, on a floor jack, and lift it.
I used to slide the center under the car on cardboard, slide it onto my chest, and heft it up. I work much smarter now.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

I made a cradle that I tack welded to my 3 ton jack. I'll see if I can find the pictures.

 

[6PKRTSE]

You could put the stands under the front spring hanger area and let the axle hang down. That may give you the room you need.

I have always done this and then just slide it under the car on cardboard or similar and the just bench press it up and in.

 

[33 IMP]

I have always done this and then just slide it under the car on cardboard or similar and the just bench press it up and in.

A lot of us are getting too old to do it the hard way. I sure am! LOL

 

[6PKRTSE]

Very true. I have a hoist now. I do have a swap coming up from a 3:23 to a 4:10 someday soon when I get a chance. Looking forward to doing my first swap not laying on my back on the ground.

 

[BearDodge67]

I use the low lift transmission jack I bought from ChiCom Freight years ago and lift it that way. Put some wood under front to level it out and strap it down and use regular 1/2" drive ratchet to lift it (impact gun blew apart the lifting mechanism on first one I had bought)

 

[340sport]

Balance it on a jack pad or cradle of some sort but make sure whatever it sits on doesn't extend past the mounting surface. Then roll it in on the jack and get it close. Push it in flush over the studs and get a few nuts started.

 

[old guys rule]

Any tips on putting in a rear diff by yourself? Car is up on Jack stands, but there’s not a ton of room under there. I got the old diff out, which I just dropped onto some lumber. Trying to the lift the new rear differential into place laying on my back with it by my side is not going well, just not a good spot to lift that kind of weight. I don’t have the room to put it on my chest and slide under the car. Two people might be the answer, or getting the car up higher so I can make some kind of table to put on my Jack to slide it under there and lift the diff up on the table and try to slide it on. Just didn’t know if anyone had any tricks.

Jack and a buddy .