Center swap??

[Whitey]

Is it possible to swap a WT rear diff center with a WT front diff center. or are they completely different. I know this means nothing but the casings look very similar?? Also will a rear ARB air locker fit in a front diff??

[Toj0]

I own a coily so I could be wrong, but I'm sure I was told that in WT's the diff centres are the same and the lockers are universal. Not so for the coily's as the front is high pinion.

If I'm wrong, someone correct me....

[Whitey]

Thanks Toj0, I'll probably rip the center out t'mrow morning and find out for sure, I have to replace axle bearings anyway..... I was thinking about putting my rear air locker up front and welding the rear, but after searching on here for a hour or two a lot of people have said it may be better to weld the front and keep the rear as an air locker... decisions decisions!!

[RB zook]

weld both its all good

[Whitey]

And what, put my air locker on my bar as an ashtray??

[RB zook]

And what, put my air locker on my bar as an ashtray??

sell it and buy somethin else

[bigred]

Front & Rear Axles are different size splines

[Toj0]

I'd stick to a welded front personally, but I don't want to start that one all over again.

Bigred. Does that mean the centres can't be swapped? Only asking because I too have access to an autolocked rear and wanted to put it up front of a 94 WT.

[bigred]

That Is correct

[nicbeer]

I believe the lockers are the same F and R. It is the centre and sided plates that are different in F and R.

cheers

[Whitey]

no longer swapping F/R centers now but thanks all for your knowledable input, after doing some searching on here it seems like a good idea to just weld the front...

I put the ARB locker in the rear diff this morning, and almost have the front center out, and have the welder ready to go.... only hold up is the lock nuts on the front bearings how big are they!! I got the outer lock nuts off with a BB shifter but can't get it in far enough to reach the inner nut... might have to make up a cheap kind of spanner/tool to get in there, how's everyone else get theirs off with out having to go and outlay cash on a BB socket??

Also does anyone have a DIY way of removing the axle bearings off the axles?? I tried this morning with some long G clamps but they wouldn't bug. Is it easier just to get them professional removed??

[nicbeer]

May the grinder be your friend.

A mate did this and grinded the outer bearing case down and then using a screwdriver or similar prised it off the axle.

cheers

[Whitey]

Yeah, my old man suggested that after I tried heating them up with the oxy and they still wouldn't budge.. I'm just a bit worried about doing some damage to the axle.

[Whitey]

Thought I'd finish this thread off just in case anyone else planning a rear wheel bearing replacement for the 1st time as well... nicbeer was spot on, best way to remove the locking collar is to put the angle grinder through it. Take your time, I found it was easier/safer to cut through the actual bearing first and remove most of it to get at the locking collar better. Once you've almost cut through the collar give it a good hit with a cold chisel. The little bugger should come right off, if not it may need a few more hits. Give the axle a good clean, I put a little bit of STP oil additive mixed with graphite powder onto the axle where the bearing will sit for a bit of lubrication, then slide the new bearing (make sure rib ring faces axle flange)and locking collar down the axle and then get a length of pipe a bit longer then your longest axle,(the piece I used was 42mm O.D and 36mm internal) make sure one end has a good clean sqare cut end, slide this down the axle and hit the bearing and collar into place. Put your new bearing seal in the axle housing fill it up with oil and thats all there is to it.. Hope this is helpful.

[MazdaSpater]

Goggles when you chisel the old one off.

No really, Knew a guy with a big scar under his eye fron a chunk of bearing race.

Chris.

[just cruizin']

How many pages did you have to go back to find this.

And the noobs amongst us:

Front diffs are 22 spline rears are 26,
To my knowledge you can swap the side gears out of a feont into a rear. Rear diffs are are 4 pinion thus stronger then the 2 pinion fronts

[SierraDan]

my knowledge you can swap the side gears out of a front into a rear.

Correctomundo.