Do I really need this?

[PJB]

I had my rearend apart to do a 5 lug axle swap today and I had trouble getting this piece to go back in:

I ended up leaving it out. I didnt even see it in the pics of the differential in my Haynes manual where they showed how to take the axles out.
It fell out and there seemed to be no way this damn thing was going back in.
I hope its not completely necessary and wont really affect anything by not being there.

 

[86bluecobra]

Umm take that rear end apart and put that s spring in. that is the load for the clutches. You need it. Do not drive your car till you reinstall that. Ok I just did this job 2 days ago. Takea set of water pump plies (channel Locks) and hold and squeeze the back end together as you wiggle the spring in. The front will collaspe enough for you to get it in.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Yes, you need that. Put it back in

 

[PJB]

What is the purpose of it?
Like I said it wasnt even in the pics of the differential in the book.

I cant drive my car legally now (no fenders or rear lights since its at my friends shop) but I did take it down the road quick and it seemed fine.

 

[86bluecobra]

Also without the s spring it your c clips could easily come off the axle and your axles could come out while driving.

 

[86bluecobra]

check my edited post. You need that for your posi to work. and to help hold your axles in.

 

[86bluecobra]

I cant drive my car legally now (no fenders or rear lights since its at my friends shop) but I did take it down the road quick and it seemed fine.

Don't take it for anymore trips without installing that part.

 

[Mustang5L5]

It puts tension on your c-clips so they don't fall off when there isn't a load on them.

Without that part, one could fall off one day and your axle will slide out. Put it back in.

 

[PJB]

Does it go in before or after the small gears on the shaft?
They fell out and that was the main reason the spring came out.
I couldnt get it in with the gears in place.

Also do the axles need to be out to put it in?

Hopefully Ill be able to reuse the gear lube since its not cheap.

 

[86bluecobra]

Ok your axles will have to be out aswell as the shaft in the middle. The spider gears and side gears will have to be installed (in) prior to installing the s-pring. Compress the spring as best you can with a channel lock plier and wiggle it in. Once you have iot started you can tap it in. Then push the axles back in and with needle nose pliers slip the c-clips in. then install the shaft through the midle and install the retaining bolt for the shaft.

This link expalins the entire rebuild. http://www.redpulsar.us/~coldfusion/tlok.html

 

[PJB]

Thanks.
Now Im pissed that I left this thing out. I was thinking it was just some kind of added safety part and it would be fine without it. I was wrong.
Ill hopefully be able to put it in Wednesday (next day off)- I wont be driving the car at all anyway.

 

[86bluecobra]

They are a pain in the butt to get back in but the channel locks worked well for me. I just compressed one side with the middle of the spring, grabbing it from the end.

 

[PJB]

Should I take the differential out of the housing and take the ring gear off or should I be able to do it with the differential still in the housing (and the car)?

 

[86bluecobra]

I did it with the carrier in my rear end while the car was jacked up in the air and I was on my back. Not the most ideal setup but it worked.

 

[PJB]

My friend has a lift so thats no problem. It was on the lift today.

Atleast I dont have to remove the differential then.

 

[dec322]

I did it with the carrier in my rear end while the car was jacked up in the air and I was on my back. Not the most ideal setup but it worked.

Not trying to thread jack but....86bluecobra, did you rebuild the traclok with it still in the rear?

 

[86bluecobra]

Yep. I left the carrier in and just removed the spider gears by using 1 axle to twist one side gear. then i removed the side gears and the clutchs and schims. Then i after having the new clutch soak in the friction mofifier over night reinstalled in the reverse order. My car was on jack stands the entire time. Now i have a new TA diff cover on it aswell.

 

[BigHairyMonkey]

lol, im sorry im of no use i just found this post extremely funny. "Umm yea i left this piece out am i ok? next post. "HOLY ****ING **** put that GODAMN thing back in there or your gonna lose an axle!"

 

[stang&2Birds]

It puts tension on your c-clips so they don't fall off when there isn't a load on them.

Without that part, one could fall off one day and your axle will slide out. Put it back in.

Yup, that's right.
Hmm, what's the big deal if an axle falls off anyway?

 

[Mike97gt]

He would not loose a axle without it, but he will TRASH his posi and his carrier..


BTW it is a pain in the ass to get that back in with the ring gear on the carrier but it is possible.. I tap them in with a hammer while compressing it as much as I can.