Please help before I cut up my new LR chassis

[JR44]

Can somebody help me I have been trying to fit the diff to my lotus chassis ,it has been impossible for me to fit the diff ...
is it easier to split the diff or do I need to persivere

Thanks

John

[alaric]

Mine was really difficult to fit too. On my car is was one of those jobs that needed me to get really aggresive and shout a lot before it went in. It's a couple of years since I fitted mine so I'm struggling to recall the trick that made it pop in - I think I had to remove the stabiliser bar that goes between the mounts, and then had to push it through the opening with my feet. Not what I wanted to do but it just wouldn't go in easily.

Hope to succeed soon.

Sean.

[AndyN]

I seem to remember a kind of Fosbury Flop approach works best (if you are working underneath the otherwise complete vehicle) Should be easier if the body is off......

Good Luck

[types26/36]

Can somebody help me .....is it easier to split the diff or do I need to persivere John

If you have the strengthening brace on the top of the diff you must remove it before fitting the diff, when the diff is in place wangle the brace in and bolt it on the diff.
The diff can be "difficult" but if you follow the manual it will go in although a certain amount of brute force can be required, there is a lot in the archives about fitting so I would suggest a search to give you a better idea.

[512BB]

Also make sure that you have removed the nearside top diff mount, as it fouls one of the alloy mounting ears.

Keep at it, they always go in in the end. Do not split the diff, you would not be able to assemble the drive shafts and bearings and then get a good seal in situ.

Leslie

[Craig Elliott]

I also seem to remember that for some reason it will only go in from one side (the LH as your looking toward the front of the car), not diff brace and some leverage should get it in...

Good luck

C

[JR44]

guys many thanksfor the replys i removed the brace bar and seemed to have tried everything even the reverse from when i removed it from the old chassis but it just seems impossible this time , but hey i'll keep trying the chasssi is bare although nice and painted but thats all chipped now which is a shame but i`ll touch that up when it eventually goes in,grrrr oh well

[graham]

I agree it is very trying .I tried putting mine in from the righthand side on the bare chassis but it kept jamming on the filler plug - reomved that and eventually it went in - then read manual and it said install from lh side which then made sense.
Perservere it will go in !!
Graham

[AussieJohn]

There is a trick to it but as yet I dont know it; I have removed mine a number of times and it does go in. The last time it would not come out, after about an hour I gave up and went for a coffee with the diff hanging partly out. When I returned to do battle the bl**dy diff was on the floor. [ maybe the "diff fairy" had paid a visit} good luck, John.

[Kiwi elan +2]

Got to love that Diff Fairy. Where do I find the Clutch Fairy and the Head Fairy?

[paddy]

Is that the same fairy that takes bits off as you're driving along?

Paddy

[oldelanman]

I found that a couple of thicknesses of heavy gauge polythene sheet between the diff and the chassis makes it much easier to slide the diff around and minimises damage to the chassis paint - maybe a bit late for that though. I also seem to remember that rotating the diff slighty clockwise (when viewed from the top) as you offer it up helps.

Keep at it - it will go in eventually!

Best regards,

[Gray]

Hi

From memory, its some time since I have put one in, push the nose in first from the left side and then rotate once it starts going in.

Good Luck

Gray