OK, Basically I don't want to go under the car to pull the diff out if I can avoid it. Bad experiences in the past kind of put me off going into tight spaces with large weights above me [1]. I even get nervous walking under road and rail bridges which really sucks.

Anyone think its a particularly bad idea to just get out an angle grinder and air saw & cut though the bottom of the Sierra from the inside in order to gain access from above? OK its a lot more work but at least I won't have to worry about having a panic attack of some sort.

I would put a block and jack under the diff then cut a bit fsk off hole in the underside of the car.

Oddly I don't think I'd have a problem when getting under the Indy when I start building but getting under the kebab again is really starting to put me off even stripping it.

[1] Oddly enough, not anything to do with drunken nights out and beer goggles.
I think I just have claustrophobia [2].

[2] The fear of fat people emptying their sacks on you.

If you just want to remove the diff (and not the diff carrier etc) you will have to do most of the cutting from underneath anyway. You will also need to remove the driveshafts.

i recently took the whole rear axle etc off a donor - best way i found was to use axle stands for the car body and a trolley jack under the diff and the brake drums (need to borrow spares). It's then just a case of a few bolts at the rear (diff) and one on each side (frame to which the trailing arms are attached.

Appreciate you don't like being underthe car at all but i was able to get these bolts off without actually being under the diff/carrier - the jacks can then be lowered slighlty and used to bring the diff etc out from under the car.

If this is no good to you, can you bring in some help? Alternatively get one of those cradle things that allows you to turn the car over onto its side so you can get access to the underneath. Expensive though.

Get a couple of M8's round and roll the thing on its side.

Cheers

Alex

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Originally posted by ecosse
Get a couple of M8's round and roll the thing on its side.

Cheers

Alex

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If you're careful and methodical about safety it should be perfectly safe to work under a car. I always use good axle stands with old wheels shoved under the car as a backup. Then a trolley jack with piece of wood under whatever you want to lower and there's really no danger.

Or alternatively if you have access to a fork lift truck like i did shove it on its side, undo a load of bolts, shove it back down then lift the whole body off the running gear

Liam

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Originally posted by robinj66
If you just want to remove the diff (and not the diff carrier etc) you will have to do most of the cutting from underneath anyway. You will also need to remove the driveshafts.

i recently took the whole rear axle etc off a donor - best way i found was to use axle stands for the car body and a trolley jack under the diff and the brake drums (need to borrow spares). It's then just a case of a few bolts at the rear (diff) and one on each side (frame to which the trailing arms are attached.

Appreciate you don't like being underthe car at all but i was able to get these bolts off without actually being under the diff/carrier - the jacks can then be lowered slighlty and used to bring the diff etc out from under the car.

If this is no good to you, can you bring in some help? Alternatively get one of those cradle things that allows you to turn the car over onto its side so you can get access to the underneath. Expensive though.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ecosse
Get a couple of M8's round and roll the thing on its side.

Cheers

Alex

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daft question, is the engine still in the car?

If so do the jacking up bit, engine will counterbalance and you'll be fine + when it comes to lowering you're no where near.

I had a scare as two of us where working on a sierra at once .........

errm, amazing how fast you move when you realise the whole car is inching towards falling off the end of the garage 4 post lift at you!

Strip all you want, then when you take down to scrappy get him to invert and remove before it enters the skip.

Regards Mark

Get a mate to do it for you

not sure how relevant this is but I was able to remove and fit a diff, ok, it is mk 2 escort, english axle from above - far easier and saer than getting underneath - cant remember if I had to remove thepetrol tank but think not.

now I have a boot floow it won't be so easy.

Gently remove donor body.

cut the handbrake cables, big angle grinder through the transmission tunnel near the back and through the rear section of the propshaft.

quick foray under the rear of the car and undo the 4 bolts holding the bracket between the diff and the boot floor on (with trolley jack under the diff) then remove jack when clear.

Then its just the two counterplate bolts and 1 big bolt each side at the rear of the sill, all of which can be done without getting under the car, and the whole lot drops clean out.

if i was you, id buy a good book about panic and anxiety and approach that problem before the car. There are websites on the internet that can help you manage any fears/issues. Having known several people who suffer from panic attacks, i have come to the conclusion that avoiding what you fear will just reinforce the fear more. Definately for the best to overcome it if possible.

Number one rule though, before you decide to ignore your gut feeling about the car dropping on you, make sure it really cant! As they say, 'just cos you're paranoid doesnt mean they arent after you!'

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Originally posted by JoelP
if i was you, id buy a good book about panic and anxiety and approach that problem before the car. There are websites on the internet that can help you manage any fears/issues. Having known several people who suffer from panic attacks, i have come to the conclusion that avoiding what you fear will just reinforce the fear more. Definately for the best to overcome it if possible.

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quote:

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Number one rule though, before you decide to ignore your gut feeling about the car dropping on you, make sure it really cant! As they say, 'just cos you're paranoid doesnt mean they arent after you!'

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