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View Full Version : Breaking a diff cover loose.....?????

MartyBear
November 27th, 2004, 15:50
Hi Gang,

What's the best way to break a diff cover loose without wrecking anything?

Also, whoever owned this particular Jeep B4 me appears to have cross threaded the filler hole cap in the diff. Does anyone make a rubber plug to put in place for this cap or di I have to buy a new diff cover?

Thanks much :repair:

Marty
gba88
November 27th, 2004, 16:14
You should look up the topic I made about the 8.25 axle the other day :) Seriously, I did it with a large screwdriver and a small sledge hammer. It was my first time doing it and everything worked out fine (so far anyway...no leaks yet!)

It took a LOT more force than I thought it should take. Just put the tip of the screwdriver in the seam and give it a couple light taps with a heavy hammer. Just use common sense & good judgement and most likely you won't mess anything up :)
CaptTrev
November 27th, 2004, 16:32
before you go and get a new diff cover....see if you can run a tap thru it to clean up the threads and then try threading in the plug.....give it a shot
MartyBear
November 27th, 2004, 16:38
Thanks guys - I'll give those suggestions a shot.

Marty
Matthew Currie
November 27th, 2004, 18:28
A good stout putty knife works pretty well - has to be strong enough to hammer on without buckling.
gba88
November 27th, 2004, 18:45
A good stout putty knife works pretty well - has to be strong enough to hammer on without buckling.

A putty knife was my first choice after seeing that recommendation on another website... Unfortunately, the one I used was a piece of crap (plastic handle). The handle got pretty smashed up, so I resorted to the screwdriver. I'm sure a decent putty knife would do the trick though!
Sparkman
November 28th, 2004, 04:45
I will echo the putty knife recommendation, works great. I like to use a really thin flexible one though, the thinner it is the easier it will go between the housing and the cover.
RichP
November 28th, 2004, 05:32
For the hole fix in the filler you can also get a new plug, you can usually find them in the same rack as the oil pan drain plugs.
bburge
November 28th, 2004, 13:15
You could probably find a proper sized plasic one. For the cost of a tap that size? You might be able to get a new cover! :laugh3:

Good time to buy a Crane? :kissyou: Crane (http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/crane_diff_covers/index.asp)

Those, you break loose just by whanging on them with a hammer!

bburge