The “new” differential went in today, actually yesterday and today. Was definitely a two day job for me in the driveway. Good excuse to get a new jack.

I’ll post some lessons learned and pics on the overland thread, but I’m going to give the combined job of installing the diff along with a new driveshaft CV joint and center bearing a 6 out of 10 on the pita scale. It would have been easier with a lift.

I took it out for a quick test drive and happily none of the Quaife, output bearings, or CV joint came unglued. In fact the car was drama and noise free…even the loud “ping” I’ve been hearing for the past 2 years when shifting from reverse to drive, and back is gone.

Tomorrow I’ll drive it around some more and do the repeated 360s in either direction that is recommended for the break in. Then it’s on to some new thrust arms with Tuner ball joints., which I hope will last longer than the lemforders I out in a few years ago. I think the lift and bigger wheels are causing me to go thru bushings more quickly. I don’t know what a “spherical monoball” is, but I hope it last longer than the oe rubber bushings.

__________________
Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
2026 G80 M3 6 spd
2025 G06 X5 50e
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee