How to- Ford Racing IRS Diff Cover (didnt drop irs subframe)

usmcsvtwannabe

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This is my first right up and I will make corrections here and there when I find that I ****ed something up haha. All critiques are wanted, I dont want to give people bad info. I submitted something similar to this to American Muscle and got a $130 coupon so I guess it was at least decent enough. Here is what I have, *note all tool sizes arent exact, I did most of this off of memory and this was a really big project for me. I am new to the DIY stuff, but all in all it worked out pretty well. Not too bad for a 19yr old with little experience. Make sure to set aside two days at least, maybe more just in case you run into problems

Start here:
FORD RACING DIFFERENTIAL COVER 8.8 IRS
Part #50383

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Tools Needed:
Socket set, metric and standard
Sledge hammer
Puller device, pitman puller
Jack
Jack stands
Flat head screw drivers
Torque wrench, capable of 8 ft/lbs and 250 ft/lbs
Extra set of hands
Differential fluid (75w-140 1.5-2 quarts)
Place the car is your workspace, put the car in gear with the parking brake on.
1.Place the car on jack stands on all four corners; place the rear end as high up as you can
2.Remove the rear tires, 21mm deep socket
3.Remove mid pipe and cat back; 15mm deep socket
4.Removing the cat back involves taking the hangers out of the rubber holding pieces, should be three of them. Use wd-40
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5.Remove both brake caliper bolts, 12mm. On both sides of the car
6.Remove brake caliper on both side of the car
7.Remove brake caliper bracket bolts, 15mm. On both side of the car. (Tie the caliper higher up so its not in your way)
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8.Remove tire rod cotter pin using a pair of needle nose pliers
9.Remove tire rod nut 15mm
10.Remove tire rod using a puller device
11.Remove lower control arm from wheel hub by removing the nut, 15mm
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12.Remove wheel hub center nut, 36mm deep socket. Very hard to get off
13.Sledge hammer or puller device will be needed to hit the center stud to remove the hub assembly
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14. Once both sides are removed, use a crow bar or big flat head screwdriver to pop out the half-shaft from the differential *USE A PAINT MARKER AND MARK THE OREINTATION OF THE HALF SHAFT*
15. Then pull the half shaft out far enough to rest on the lower control arm
16. Next you will need to remove the drive shaft. *MARK WITH A PAINT MARKER AT TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS* from the drive shaft on to the pinion
17.Remove all four bolts holding the drive shaft to the pinion
18.Once the bolts are removed push the drive shaft up and tie it in place with a piece of string or zip ties
19.Next remove the sensors from both sides of the differential. One on each side
20.Next loosen the differential rear isolator nuts, leave in place for now but loosen
21.Loosen pinion cross member brace where it is connected to the sub frame. Leave brace in place
22.Now bring the jack under the car to support the weight of the differential
23.Now remove the two bolts on the pinion cross member that are connected to the differential, after this the differential should drop out
24.Make sure you remove the rear bolts that we already loosened, and take the pinion cross member out now
25.Once the differential is removed and lowered from the car place it on a work bench or clean surface
26.Remove the drain plug and drain fluids into an oil pan
27.Remove the differential pressure relief valve hose (save it)
28.Remove all 10 differential housing bolts
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29.Stock cover should fall off now
30.Get a razor blade and a flat head screw driver and scrape away all the old gasket
31.Get some sand paper and parts cleaner and scrape way any impurities, you need a clean surface
32.Once the surface is clean and all excess fluid is drained get the grey rtv
33.Apply the grey rtv around every single bolt area to make a very healthy gasket, use allot but make sure it is even. Apply the same on the ford racing differential cover
34.Once both areas have been covered place the cover on the housing and place all ten bolts hand tight into the holes
35.After ten minutes has passed torque down to 25ft/lbs
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36.Let differential sit for 24hrs before reinstalling
37.*EXTRA* since the fuel filter is such a pain to replace, replace now since there is so much room to get to it now
38.Follow all the steps in reverse in order to reinstall the diff housing
39.Torque specs need:
a.ABS bracket-to-lower arm = 17 ft-lbs
b.ABS bolt-to-diff = 5 ft-lbs
c.Brake banjo bolt = 30 ft-lbs
d.Brake caliper anchor bolts = 76 ft-lbs
e.Brake caliper bolt = 25 ft-lbs
f.Brake line-to-rear brake caliper bolt = 30 ft-lbs
g.Diff cover = 25 ft-lbs
h.Diff pinion nose crossmember-to-diff = 52 ft-lbs
i.Diff pinion nose crossmember-to-subframe = 184 ft-lbs
j.Diff rear insulator-to-axle housing bolts = 76 ft-lbs
k.Driveshaft to pinion flange = 83 ft-lbs (Blue Loctite)
l.Hub nut = 250 ft-lbs
m.Lower arm and bushing-to-subframe bolts = 184 ft-lbs
n.Lower arm and bushing-to-knuckle nut = 85 ft-lbs
o.Parking brake cable bracket-to-lower arm bushing bolt = 11 ft-lbs
p.Rear brake disc dust sheild-to-knuckle bolts = 89 in-lbs
q.Stabilizer bar bracket bolt = 41 ft-lbs
r.Stabilizer bar link nuts = 35 ft-lbs
s.Subframe-to-body bolts = 76 ft-lbs (14mm bolts = 131 ft-lbs; 9/16” bolt = 145 ft-lbs)
t.Subframe-to-rear bracket bolts = 76 ft-lbs
u.Subframe rear bracket-to-body bolts = 59 ft-lbs
v.Shock-to-lower arm and bushing bolts = 98 ft-lbs
w.Shock-to-body nuts = 30 ft-lbs
x.Toe link-to-subframe nut = 35 ft-lbs
y.Toe link-to-knuckle nut = 35 ft-lbs
z.Upper arm and bushing-to-subframe nuts = 66 ft-lbs
aa.Upper arm bushing-to-knuckle nut = 66 ft-lbs
ab.Wheel lugs = 95 ft-lbs
Before reinstalling the wheels and catback fill from the middle hole on the cover with 75w-140 royal purple differential fluid. 1.5-2 quarts is needed


Thanks for reading guys!! :rockon::rockon:
 

stangposse

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Nice write up. I usually mark my cam bolts when removing the spindle from the control arm. This way it goes back in with the same orientation when it came off.
 

usmcsvtwannabe

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^^I forgot to mark them while in the process of doing it, but i got very lucky because I havent even got a chance to get a new alignment yet and she drives straight as an arrow. no rattles or vibrations
 

usmcsvtwannabe

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What do you guys use to refill the differential?

I took a piece of small tubing from the hardware store and attached it to the diff fluid bottle and had someone hold it above the tire while I guided the tube into the diff fill hole
 

Vicious805cobra

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Is it possible to do the rear diff support while the pumpkin is out, my diff is leaking and was thinking about doing ftbr front and rear diff bushings while it was out.?
 

usmcsvtwannabe

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Is it possible to do the rear diff support while the pumpkin is out, my diff is leaking and was thinking about doing ftbr front and rear diff bushings while it was out.?

You would need to drop the entire IRS subframe to do that. (dont quote me tho) Just dropping the IRS subframe is a little different. FTBR has a video on how to do it. Let me know which one you do, if you have any questions about it just pm me. Good luck :rockon:

Use a transfer pump. I'm about to do this. Nice write up!

This! I was stubborn and used a piece of tubing and squeezed the diff fluid through the tube but that shit is thick and takes allot of patient to get it to the diff through some tubing lol
something like this. Screws right onto the top of a diff fluid bottle, and pumps like hand soap. Well...not EXACTLY like hand soap, it requires a bit more muscle.

I wish I had that pump. Where did you find that
 

usmcsvtwannabe

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I think you could pick up one of those pumps at harbor freight for about $6 and thanks op

No prob. I'll have to look. I might be taking it out again soon. I want to do the FTBR bushings and redo the bears in the diff. Not having any problems with anything just want to make it buliet proof. Should of done it the first time I took it apart :nonono: lol
 

Vicious805cobra

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I know what you mean, if I'm going to invest 6-8hrs might as well take it a step further and do the whole set. Time and money just aren't on my side on this one.
 

briangsxr1000

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something like this. Screws right onto the top of a diff fluid bottle, and pumps like hand soap. Well...not EXACTLY like hand soap, it requires a bit more muscle.

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These are usually near the oil section at walmart. This tool is used for outdrives on boats to pump gear oil in the bottom of the unit. Quicksilver makes one for cheap.
 

usmcsvtwannabe

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In for later thanks

No problem man, let me know if you need any input on any of it. Im actually going to be pulling the rear again in November/December to detail the suspension and clean her up a bit, as well as change the fuel filter and fluids so I'll be updating the write up with some better pics and maybe clean some of the steps up
 

cyclegrip

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Is there a special tool needed for the calipers to get them to go back? My brakes are dragging hardcore and I can't get them to readjust themselves
 

THunterW

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You have to use a rear caliper compression tool that screws the caliper piston flush. You can rent it at any Autozone, PepBoys, etc. It's what I had to use to re-seat my rear caliper pistons. You can't use an ordinary c-clamp on the rear calipers for the Cobras.
 

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