c4 front diff drop - sharing a tip
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,720
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From: West Sussex
c4 front diff drop - sharing a tip
I thought I'd share this here, I've not posted before but in the year I've owned my c4 this place has been a great source of info.
So, I'm fixing a front differential input oil seal leak - apparently not an uncommon issue.
There a couple of posts on here that have the steps from the factory workshop manual clearly laid out, so I won't repeat them.
The tricky bit to removing the differential is getting the top two of the four diff bolts joining the diff to the torque tube undone. These are buiried up in the tunnel and have no access hole above them like the bolts at the rear end of the torque tube.
The factory manual suggests using long extensions and going up the side from underneath, between the tunnel and the torque tube, whilst being carefull not to crush the brake line on one side and the PAS hoses on the other. This just didn't seem workable.
So, my tip, which worked nicely for me: dis-assemble the center console and remove the gear stick and dust boot, then you can pass your 10mm allen key socket on the end of a 2-3ft extender forward through the gear stick hole and forward along the top of the torque tube, you'll still need a 1/2inch breaker bar/cheater bar but you're square on and when the thing lets go you won't be in danger of crushing any pipes.
there's plenty of messing around involved in the whole diff seal job but this trick turned it from a no-go into a go, for me at least.
So, I'm fixing a front differential input oil seal leak - apparently not an uncommon issue.
There a couple of posts on here that have the steps from the factory workshop manual clearly laid out, so I won't repeat them.
The tricky bit to removing the differential is getting the top two of the four diff bolts joining the diff to the torque tube undone. These are buiried up in the tunnel and have no access hole above them like the bolts at the rear end of the torque tube.
The factory manual suggests using long extensions and going up the side from underneath, between the tunnel and the torque tube, whilst being carefull not to crush the brake line on one side and the PAS hoses on the other. This just didn't seem workable.
So, my tip, which worked nicely for me: dis-assemble the center console and remove the gear stick and dust boot, then you can pass your 10mm allen key socket on the end of a 2-3ft extender forward through the gear stick hole and forward along the top of the torque tube, you'll still need a 1/2inch breaker bar/cheater bar but you're square on and when the thing lets go you won't be in danger of crushing any pipes.
there's plenty of messing around involved in the whole diff seal job but this trick turned it from a no-go into a go, for me at least.
