I can't keep away..... I've just spoke to Knighty and told him the bad news that I'm looking to go to the 'Dark Side' and get a buggy...I've tried everyway to make the seat comfortable for my poor old bad back - no joy, so it's gonna have to go.

I noticed a vibration the other day and discovered the oil had leaked out from the diff.....erh, drama!! Fortunately this was discovered on the driveway and not at 80mph larging it down the road.

I've recently changed over the 4.2:1 LSD on my kit car to a 3.54:1 diff. The axle is a MK 1 escort.

The oil has leaked out of the coupling from the diff to the prop shaft.

When changing over the diff, the mechanic had to swap over the 'flange' from the 4.2 to the 3.54, so that it it would fit the prop shaft coupling.

The question is, does the diff 'flange' need to be have a specialist fitment onto the diff spline......the reason I ask is that the when I said "well if I don't like it, we can always refit the old diff..." He said " it will need a specialist engineering fitment for the 'flange' because it needs to be fitted under pressure.

The hind-sight question to that is.....does this one we're fitting now also need the specialist fitment....I guess the answer was yes.

I've attached a couple of pictures to show the diff in situ :-





Any advice, preferably constructive, much appreciated, as Knighty didn't know the answer. (not a true Jedi yet then...)

Steve

As far as I'm aware there is a special tool that is required when fitting diffs. You are quite right in saying that it needs fitting under pressure and this tools 'loads' it the disired amount. This is necessary to get the right 'back lash' and 'meshing' on the crown wheel and pinion. If it's too tight it can leak, because it will pop the seals (??) and if its too slack it will feel like the wheels are coming off everytime you change gear.... <_<

Plenty of diff companies out there and the escort one is sooo common shouldn't be a problem I reckon

Have a chat on the ford forums?

Hope this helps B)