Diff Service DIY?

[Monty-4]

Hi folks,

I'm lucky to enough to have a decent 3.7 diff from a Riley that I'm running now my 1098 has been "heated up" a little but it does whine a bit. It's perfectly tolerable but I'd prefer it to be absolutely perfect. Are there any decent resources that'll tell me how to diagnose the cause and do the set-up/adjustment properly before moving on to replacing bearings, and so on?

Perhaps I'd be better off just sending it off to a specialist and getting fleeced?

Thanks!

[SteveClem]

Not sure that you would necessarily get fleeced,but they have to make enough to pay the rent and feed the kids! I'm sure diy would be possible if you have the tools and the skills and the time.

[Monty-4]

Let's say it's just labour costs I'd prefer to not pay if it's not too hard. I have time (lots if I dig out the old 4.22 to keep the car running) and enjoy learning these things, but I'm guessing I won't have the tools as I don't even know what I'd need!

[mike.perry]

I guess that you could read the Workshop Manual - That should put you off!!

[philthehill]

Just because it whines does not mean it is a lost cause.
When I bought my Minor, the diff was so bad that you could not hear yourself think. I ran it for many thousands of miles before I replaced the diff with a brand new one from BMC.
As an aside and ref the whining diff:-
I went to a live Fleetwood Mac event many years ago - came out after the event finished and the diff was silent
So the moral of this story is that if you want to have an inexpensive silent diff go to a rock concert and get deafened.

Unless you have the special tools and the knowledge to do the job just forget about the diff restoration and fit a good S/H one - it will work out a lot cheaper in the long term.
Phil

[bmcecosse]

And where would you get it 'overhauled' with any certainty of success anyway? It's not a case of new bearings - more a case of careful alignment of crownwheel and pinion. As above - read the Manual. You could of course try some STP in the axle..But drain off some oil first to make sure you don't overfill.

[les]

I thought sawdust was the remedy for a whining diff.

[Monty-4]

I've had a read of:

http://www.rileymotorclub.org/AKD760B%2 ... ension.pdf

It mentions a couple of special tools, the adjustment bit reads as Greek to me.

[Mark Wilson]

I went to a live Fleetwood Mac event many years ago - came out after the event finished and the diff was silent

But could you still hear The Chain?

[philthehill]

Mark
I must be getting old as you have completely lost me
Phil

[don58van]

'The Chain' is a Fleetwood Mac song. A great one too.

Don

[Declan_Burns]

Read through this. I posted some very useful links at the end of that thread.
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... al#p523806

This may also be of interest as you can see some of the tooling involved.

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... an#p489940

Regards
Declan

[Monty-4]

Thanks for the info chaps.

I had another look at it a couple of nights ago and saw that it's leaking oil from the front and was running a little low. I topped it up and I'll soon find out if it's a tolerable rate of oil consumption or whether it's going to go dry in minutes. I've read on this forum that the nut to replace the seal underneath should be done to 140 lb/sq (wow!) so that'll be fun. My torque wrench doesn't go that high, and I doubt my arms do either without more leverage.

Where can I get the seals from?

[ManyMinors]

Where can I get the seals from?

There are 20 or more Morris Minor specialists with adverts in the Club's own Magazine - I'd have thought that any of them would be likely to supply them? As the same diff was used in the MG Midget, MG specialists too.......

[Declan_Burns]

All the usual culprits have the seals.
e.g. http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 545436daed
Regards
Declan

[bmcecosse]

And after changing the seal - try the STP....

[Declan_Burns]

You will need a 1 1/8" socket to undo the pinion nut.
Regards
Declan

[Monty-4]

After about 24 hours most of the new diff oil I put in is in the drip-tray I left underneath. The problems never end...

New oil seal on it's way. I'll see if I can find STP in town tomorrow!

[bmcecosse]

You may well find the nut is loose -hence the oil leak and the whine......

[Monty-4]

Oil additive reduced the rate of leaking so I'll keep that in mind in future. A new oil seal will be going in today or tomorrow, perhaps with a new front pinion bearing too.

Also discovered a leak from the rear gearbox seal but that looks like an easier job. It truly never ends!