im placing in 373's,i removed the cclip, pinion shaft, axles ppinion gears etc. only thing that remains is the differential and pinion gear. i read that i could pry out the diff with pry bar im having no luck. it wont budge, did i miss something?
I used a pry bar with one end inside the carrier housing and prying it out against the bottom edge of the diff housing - I had to whack it a few times to get it to budge. When you put the new gears back in, you need to shim it so it will be just as tight going back in as it was coming out. I am assuming as the poster above mentioned that the carrier retainer clamps (or whatever they are called - two bolts on each one) are removed.
Take it and have it done. You will thank me later. Rear gears are nothing to mess around with unless you are skilled. If not they will clunk, whine and whatnot. Also have the entire rearend rebuilt with new bearings, seals, shims, traction loc and etc. One of our local race car builders does them for $100 labor. That doesn't make it worth ruining my day, getting nasty and not having it right just to try to save money. Thats $300- $400. Depending on the parts you get.
Just my 2 cents, though. I have done it and was never happy with the result.
Yes, no beginner should even really tackle the job without paying someone to do it. All one does is get themselves in a **** pile where they end up bringing the parts to a pro asking for help. It just isn't something to simply "mess" with.
I've done a few including the one out back of my stang, but i'm also in the automotive field in the first place. It takes time, patience, the right tools, and above all - precision.
Anyway that being said and done, it just takes a lot of leverage and a long prybar backed with some strengh to pop out the carrier. When you remove the main caps, lay them down so that when you put them back on, they go back the same way. Don't quote me on it but I believe they go arrows out.