Front Diff Removal - Project LOKKA for 02> onwards

[Banshee]

Id swap rear axel then as our trucks have the Renault rear diff and not great id love to get hold of older one but not many have abs

 

[solarman216]

Id swap rear axel then as our trucks have the Renault rear diff and not great id love to get hold of older one but not many have abs

I got a scrapper with an axle with abs, Rick

 

[elty001]

Mine had abs on the cast diff :thumb2

 

[AlexD333]

So, excuse my lack of technical know how but something is niggling in my mind.

The lokka forces the wheels to turn together, locked, as before if you fitted a different diff with different ratios it would not matter as it would "slip" but with a wrong ratio lokka would it not be "locked" and wrong causing an imbalance or similar? Or would mud allow both front wheels to "unwind" as such...?

Just a thought :nenau

 

[solarman216]

Mine had abs on the cast diff :thumb2

how that work then? we are talking rear? Rick

 

[Banshee]

how that work then? we are talking rear? Rick

He means up front, I know Elty

I've heard the hardest part of swapping these diffs over is getting the handbrake to work right again :lol

Any tips guys?

I'd like to think I'm quite strong but is this a 2 man job or can I get away with it on my own?

 

[solarman216]

So, excuse my lack of technical know how but something is niggling in my mind.

The lokka forces the wheels to turn together, locked, as before if you fitted a different diff with different ratios it would not matter as it would "slip" but with a wrong ratio lokka would it not be "locked" and wrong causing an imbalance or similar? Or would mud allow both front wheels to "unwind" as such...?

Just a thought :nenau

The Lokka works by forcing plates apart with dogs on but only when driven, remove any force on the input drive and the dogs ratchet round to cater for corners, if you have a different ratio front to rear, it will be no big problem (1) as the difference is small, (2) the fact you need 4 wheel means you should be on slippy stuff anyway so wind up will not occur, Rick

 

[solarman216]

He means up front, I know Elty

I've heard the hardest part of swapping these diffs over is getting the handbrake to work right again :lol

Now I am confused, what has hand brake got to do with Diffs, Rick

Any tips guys?

I'd like to think I'm quite strong but is this a 2 man job or can I get away with it on my own?

I done loads, trolley jack, plus I remove the cross member the front diff mounts on, makes it so so much easier, but you do have to cut two of the bolts as the wish bone gets in the way, put two replacement bolts in from the front cutting to length so they do not foul the wish bone, Rick

 

[Banshee]

I done loads, trolley jack, plus I remove the cross member the front diff mounts on, makes it so so much easier, but you do have to cut two of the bolts as the wish bone gets in the way, put two replacement bolts in from the front cutting to length so they do not foul the wish bone, Rick

I was on about doing the rear axle on my own, swapping the Dacia junk for the cast goodness on my own?

 

[makeitfit]

I was on about doing the rear axle on my own, swapping the Dacia junk for the cast goodness on my own?

Axle swap is easy enough on your own and probably about an hour job . Plus bleeding brakes. :thumbs

 

[elty001]

how that work then? we are talking rear? Rick

Yeah I was answering marks comments on the rear diff.
Meant to put has abs not had:lol

As for rear axle swap as Pete says big trolley jack.
Don't see why handbrake should cause you any issues as you would have to set up the rear brakes after removing them anyway .

 

[solarman216]

I got a scrapper with an axle with abs, Rick

bump, Rick

 

[Banshee]

bump, Rick

Look at Rick going I'm with the hard sell [emoji38]

 

[Banshee]

Axle swap is easy enough on your own and probably about an hour job . Plus bleeding brakes. :thumbs

Got to make sure the mounting points are the same first :doh

 

[makeitfit]

Got to make sure the mounting points are the same first :doh

I seriously can't see the mighty tight pursed Nissan changing trailing arm postions just for a diff. diff :augie

 

[Banshee]

I seriously can't see the mighty tight pursed Nissan changing trailing arm postions just for a diff. diff :augie

You never know, they changed the bloody diff!!!!!!!!!! :doh :lol

 

[Banshee]

Progress and real proof!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you ready!?!?!?! Then pull up a motherfunking seat :splif

I got round to removing my front diff from Terrance this evening, drained the fluid and cracked it open to compare and see if the later diffs are different or not.

First things first, a tip for the guys with the Mk3's, there is a lip on the torsion bar trunion which prevents removal of a bolt in the front crossmember and requires the torsion bars to be removed, best thing to do is get the angle grinder on the original bolt and put a spare in the other way round :thumbs

Next lets put to bed a myth, driveshafts!!!!

2004 driveshaft that I brought from eBay at the top
1999 driveshaft that I painted at the bottom

Out comes the old diff and comparison time

IDENTICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But we're not out of the woods yet

Next it was time to whip the both open, with a help from Elty (cheers bud :thumb2) I was able to divide the number of teeth on the pinion and crown to find out the ratio

My 2004 open diff had 35 teeth on the big pinion and 8 on the small crown which gave us a ratio of 4.375-1

Opened the 1999 diff up running the LOKKA and it's running the same ratio!!!!! :jump
35 on big pinion and 8 on the small crown = 4.375-1

It was at this point I was dissapointed as in my haste to remove the diff, i hadn't thought about how I was going to get it back in on my own :doh

I'm going to have to sweet talk the guys in the garage at work to help me on a ramp after work

The front of the car is so high now :lol :lol

So as of tomorrow I'll officially be able to change my sig and declare that I'm LOKKA'D

This world first research was brought to you by Nissan 4x4 Owners Club

 

[solarman216]

That tip re grind off the two bolts that you cannot get out, is same for all, been doing it for ages as it is so much easier to do the front diff with with the x member out of the way, Rick

 

[Banshee]

That tip re grind off the two bolts that you cannot get out, is same for all, been doing it for ages as it is so much easier to do the front diff with with the x member out of the way, Rick

Try getting it back in on your own :doh :lol

The 1999 didn't have that lip!!!! :nenau

 

[Banshee]

5PM I'll be on a ramp getting the diff reinstalled with some propper lifting kit :lol

I wont do that again unless Elty wants to let me use his DIY Cradle :naughty