Alternator Housing Gasket N62 e53 DIY without photos SORRY

[SlickGT1]

Yea doing maintenance is better than a new car note. At least you will have space to work on the X with the house.

[mofoaka]

Hi, instead of taking off diff, can we unbolt the drive shaft between transfer case and the front diff, pop it out 1 inch and turn diff clockwise to expose the bastard bolt?

when you speak of the skid is it the steel plate held by the 6 bolts (4 holding sway bar and 2 on the front subframe?

I'm thinking about doing this because the cold has exacerbated the gasket for me..

and i can't afford a $1200 with baby coming on the way.. plus its due for front air struts ( 1 side is sagging)... maintenance isn't hard.. the timing sucks though lol..

[SlickGT1]

When I say taking off the diff, you just unbolt it from engine, not remove all the way. You do not need to touch the shaft attaching it to transfer case. You still need to remove it from engine just a tad bit. No way to do that, or even tilt it as you say, without unbolting it from engine. Once that is done, and you lift the engine just a bit, the diff stays unbolted resting on the frame, while engine moves up half inch. That gives you enough space to get to that last bastard bolt.

Correct about the skid plate. Belt with 6 bolt and nuts.

Yea same here with timing. Got a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Car maintenance has never been the same after the first baby.

[mlyvu]

Hi, in step 19, you mentioned "you can now go to the pass side, and take out the 2 shock mount bolts. Tilt the hub assembly out, and use a pry bar to pop axle out of upper oil pan. You do not need to remove this, just pop it out of the diff". Can you please explain why you need to remove axle on the pass side? Also, can I replace engine mounts (pass and driver sides) at this time? Thanks in advance.

[SlickGT1]

You don't need to remove it because you just want to pop it out from the diff. It serves no purpose to remove it. As soon as it's loose, you can go ahead and finish unbolting diff from engine. Yes, replacing engine mounts, especially the drivers side one, would gake no extra effort. You will be able to take it out like throwing a hotdog down a hallway.

The pass side, I don't quite remember how easy it would be, but it is easier than drivers no matter what. I did it few years ago as well. You should have the necessary clearance to get to it with just the skid plate removed. It will take some turning and twisting to get it out of the bay though. So be ready.

[mlyvu]

Thanks for your responses. I am sorry, my question was not clear. So in step 19, I need to take out 2 shock mount bolts on the passenger side and pop out axle on the passenger side? If so, can you please explain why we have to do that?

[SlickGT1]

I am guessing the question is still not clear. Are you asking why the shock mount bolts come out? That is to let the hub move out enough to be able to pop the axle out. You put tension on the hub las if you are pulling it out, and at the same time give the axle a pop with a prybay. It is much easier to remove the two big bolts from the shock, instead of anything else.

Or is the shock mount part that threw you off. You remove the bolts where the shock attaches to the hub assembly, not the shock mount under the hood. You never have to worry about the shock mount under the hood at all.

[mlyvu]

Thanks for your explanation. My confusion is you are working on the "driver side" to try to get the alt bracket out, and in step 19 you mention to pop out the axle on the "passenger side". The passenger side is what throws me off. I don't understand why you have to pop out axle on the "passenger side". Does it relates to the diff on driver side?

[SlickGT1]

I get it. Yea it is connected to the diff, which is on the driver side.

The pass side axle, goes through the oil pan, and into the diff. Don't worry, the axle goes through the oil pan in its own cavity. Oil does not come out when you pop it out. You should have your oil drained by this time anyway. You do not want it to drip on you for ever through the hoses that you remove.

Diff will not move out of the way, that half inch that you need if the axle did not get popped out from pass side. You do not need to remove the axle, just pop it from its locked in position.

[mlyvu]

Makes a lot more sense to me now. A little nervous, but I will give it a try when parts arrive. Thank you so much.