Posted by Adam on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 18:42:00 :
In Reply to: Re:How do you unscrew the diff. case? posted by Mike A in Fairfax on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 20:22:34 :
After several unsuccessful attempts at unscrewing the differential carrier cap, I had an idea which others might find useful.
I made a large wrench by cutting approx 3 inch long pieces off of a small metal construction stake (which is about 1 ½ wide, 1/4 thick and 24 in long). These pieces became the fingers of the wrench.
I welded the fingers directly to the flat side of a large piece of rectangular steel tubing, like a 2x4 only bigger. (which I had left over from making a dolly for my cab). The whole wrench was about 5 ft long, was very rigid, and cost me about $20.
I cut down two more of the metal construction stakes and set them inside an old useless PW brake drum. I placed the carrier inside and drilled some holes through the stakes. I bolted the carrier to the stakes through the ring gear holes. I tack welded the stakes inside the drum, removed the carrier and finished the welds.
I removed the lug nuts from the front wheel of another intact PW that I have and bolted the drum backwards onto the wheel of the other truck, using the lug nuts. I then bolted the carrier into the reverse drum fixture, with the cap facing outward where the fingers on the wrench could engage the slots in the cap.
The reversed drum set up was very solid and the wrench worked very well. The whole thing cost very little and took about 3 hrs. I just wish I made the wrench longer, I cant believe how much torque that thing took. I guess the stakes could be drilled and bolted to the drum if someone does not have access to a welder.