e53 4.8is Front Drive Shaft Help Please?

[andrewwynn]

Actually: read that other post fully: he pushed the part out with hydraulics. I don't know if he pushed it in to get the clip to clear or pushed it out through the dif.

If the second you should be able to do on the car.

I posted on the other thread to ask about the possibility of removal without taking out the dif.

I think the clip is stuck bewteen the outer bearing and the internal gear and you'd have to remove the dif to separate.

[andrewwynn]

If your connection was solid (eg drill and tap) to attach the slide hammer then there is very little difference in pulling or pushing from the other side.

I'm not familiar with the inner workings of the dif to know if there is a clear path through the center.

Since the left CV has to come out before you can get the dif out I would be inclined to try a push possibility.

I think that the clip is jammed in a way that can't be pushed in or out and exactly like the example thread above, but it would be worth one more attempt.

I would consider one crazy possibility before removing the dif:

Using the replacement CV to determine exactly where the snap ring is, you could drill a hole in the dif casing where you can use a probe to push the snap ring up into the groove so it clears the obstruction.

After you can use an expansion nut to plug the hole.

The obvious problem is how to keep metal chips out of the dif in the end. If it's steel casing that shouldn't be too hard but either way you'll have a 1" hole to reach in once you extract the CV.

Ask the guy from the other thread of he thinks that would work.

[brucemillar]

Okay

Today we got the old shaft out using a slide hammer and fabricated tool.

Now we have another problem.

The new shaft will not go into the diff. This is because there is a bit of something floating around inside that we cannot get out and is stopping the new shaft from pushing in.

It’s looking like we will have to drop the diff and strip it to find what the floating bit is?

Do we need ramps to drop the diff?

Has anybody done this?


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[STOCKSILVER02]

1) You would have to lower subframe (8 e12 bolts). 2 for the rack and pinion and 3 on each side. control arms will hold it up.
2) Unbolt both motor mounts and lift engine about 3-4 inches (more may be needed but don't think so)
3) The diff itself has 4 16mm bolts.
4) should slide off

[brucemillar]

Can anybody help me out answer this please?

Looking for this diff... it’s difficult to find a 4.8 one... there are a few listed on there however they are in Lithuania...

Apparently the 4.8 litre comes With a 3.91 ratio diff?

I can find a few 3.91 ratio ones that say they have come out of the 3.0 litre motors....

I now need to find out if it has the 3.91 ratio internals even if it’s out of the 3.0 litre, will it bolt onto the 4.8 engine...


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[STOCKSILVER02]

Have you checked Ebay?

[brucemillar]

Originally Posted by STOCKSILVER02

Have you checked Ebay?

Yes I checked and there lots on there. But most require cross border shipping. I just to be sure that a 3.0 litre one is compatible with my 4.8 ?

[andrewwynn]

I'm pretty sure the diff is cross compatible you just need to make sure it's the correct ratio. BMW used a higher ratio for the 3.0 then the 8 cylinder models

[e39_touring]

In the US, the 3.91 ratio was only used on the 4.6 and 4.8is and is harder to find. 3.0s all had 4.10 ratio. If still legible, the ratio will be printed on the sticker on top. Mechanically, they all boot in the same.

It may be easier to upgrade to 4.10s front and rear from a manual 3.0.

[brucemillar]

Originally Posted by e39_touring

In the US, the 3.91 ratio was only used on the 4.6 and 4.8is and is harder to find. 3.0s all had 4.10 ratio. If still legible, the ratio will be printed on the sticker on top. Mechanically, they all boot in the same.

It may be easier to upgrade to 4.10s front and rear from a manual 3.0.

Thank you. I European ebay I can see several diffs that are claimed to be 3.91 and "will fit 3.0d auto & 4.8is Auto"



What we want to do is (if we can be sure we are getting the correct ratio? is this:


Order up a 3.91 diff and get it sent over to me.
Replace the entire diff & shafts in one day.


If we strip the old diff down first, it may not buy us anything. We are not sure what holds the planet gears, in place, inside the diff.



The planet gear(s) have dropped, stopping the shafts from being re-installed. We believe they would be held up inside the diff by a bracket that has broken? But have no idea. I have never seen the innards of one of these diffs?


Can anybody see or, tell me, what holds the planet gears in place inside the diff. If we can fix that? we save the hassle of replacing the diff.....