Changing diff, how hard ?--NA6

Basho · Postby **Basho** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:01 pm

How hard is it to change a diff in an NA6 , a complete unit not stripping down and replacing the internals of existing ?

Is there a tutorial anywhere ?

I'd be working alone.

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:10 pm

I found the hardest thing was getting the ppf off the diff... Provided you have a good jack, maybe even two, it shouldn't be too bad. I would recommend a helping hand though if you can get one.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:45 pm

Or two sets of hands and a forklift :grin:

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Postby **mrpham** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:03 am

I'll need a hand

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:50 am

the essential is a workshop manual- thats the purpose - put together by professionals and certainly the NA6 has a number of manuals available.

RedMX · Postby **RedMX** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:10 pm

It's possible to do the job on your own. I did it solo.... Its a little bit tricky but it can be done.
dealing with the PPF will be the hardest part, The rest is easy as pie. :wink:

There was a guide I found on the net from when I did my swap but I cannot seem to find it.

nGtim · Postby **nGtim** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:24 pm

The diff swap is really easy compared to most cars I've worked on. It can easily be done with one person.
I had a quick glance at this : http://thoughtdraw.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... x-5-miata/

before I tackled it however I've done a diff for a S13 before so I had some sort of clue of what to do.
Definitely helps to have a helping hand that can get inside the car and lock up the shafts for you by putting the car into gear etc.

My piece of advice is just to put the rear on jack stands and get underneath and see for yourself! Really isn't too much to it! Also get a small breaker bar/pole for extra leverage so you don't round any nuts.

Good luck!

Basho · Postby **Basho** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:15 pm

Thanks for the replies everyone , I'm not sure if I'm going to have to change it out, its only got 85,000 easy k's on it and even though it's 20 years old it shouldn't be gone surely ? even the seals are still good.

I changed the diff oil and had a good look underneath to see if the ppf is cracked anywhere at the same time as tightening everything in sight and I can see how it removes , I can also see how an extra set of hands would come in usefull.

I have the Mazda workshop manual for the car so I'm good for all the tech like torque setting if I do have to swop it out.

:beer:

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:01 pm

basho with only that low kMs it should have plenty of life left in it.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:07 pm

Basho wrote:How hard is it to change a diff in an NA6 , a complete unit not stripping down and replacing the internals of existing ?

Is there a tutorial anywhere ?

I'd be working alone.

I seem to recall that Ben Sale did a diff and wrote a thread. When you put it back together, only pull up the fasteners enough to close all of the gaps and then torque everything in a sequence, particularly anything re; the PPF.
Greg.

koop21 · Postby **koop21** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:53 pm

it really isnt that hard swapping the diff housing, the only annoying bit is smashing the little collars out.
Other then that its pretty straight forward. Oh and a friend will make the process alot easier to help guide the diff out as you lower it out.