8.8 Ford Diff Install W/Pictures
My son & I installed the Paramount 8.8 Ford diff tonight. Working from the car being up on blocks W/the stock diff, halfshafts & driveshaft removed, it took a little over 3 hours to remove the OEM "06" hubs, replace them W/the "09" hubs & install the Paramont halfshafts, driveshaft & differential center section.
If you need guidance for the removal of the stock parts & the R&R of the hubs, this excellent thread by Hemi31 covers all that. Thank you Erik for sharing your vast knowledge on the subject! :not_worth
http://lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=111839
OK, so you have the old stuff pulled, you have replaced the old hubs W/the updated "09" hubs & installed the paramount halfshafts.
Here is where it differs a bit, but 1st, this is what you will get W/a typical Paramount 8.8 changeover kit.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install001.jpg
From top to bottom:
- Center section & front mount adaptor
- NIB "09" Challenger hubs
- Paramount halfshafts
- Paramont driveshaft rear portion (4 bolts are included for the driveshaft flange, but are not shown in the picture)
Unless you have Bill include an OEM rear diff mount/cover like I did, you will have to re-use your OEM diff mount/cover. You must specify if you will be using a 210mm or 215mm mount/cover.
So here we go:
Here are 2 different views on the front mount adaptor. It uses the OEM rubber bushing/mount & screw. These shots show how the adaptor integrates W/the OEM bushing & front mount screw.
The beveled surface goes down & the 2 tapped holes will be to the front of the mount bolt hole.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install003.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install002.jpg
Install the front mount adaptor in the OEM front mount location. Make sure to torque the Allen head bolt before raising the center section into place. The beveled edges go down & the 2 threaded holes are oriented to the front of the mount bolt counterbore. Try to keep the adaptor "square" but do not be overly concerned as the adaptor, being mounted through the OEM rubber bushing, can be jimmied for final bolt hole alignment when the center section is bolted up to the chassis.
Here are 2 views of the adaptor installed in the OEM front mount location.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install010.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install009.jpg
Next, move the center section into place on a floor jack & insert the halfshaft splines into the carrier. Insert one side fully till the snap ring engages the side gears, then the other. Unlike the OEM 215mm unit, it is not neccessary to have the suspension compressed/loaded to do this. It can be done W/the wheels hanging & the chassis on jack stands. There is no need to compress the lower control arms.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have the Detroit True Trac LSD, do not install the rear cover until the following steps are completed!
After the halfshafts are installed, but before raising the center section into place, applying the rear cover or bolting up the driveshaft, a spacer must be inserted & secured between the halfshafts in the Detroit True Trac LSD carrier.
Rotate the ring gear untill you see the large hole in the LSD carrier facing rearward.
This is what you will see.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install005.jpg
This spacer can be a bit difficult to insert & you must assure that the spline ends are pushed fully outward to do so. Use a small prybar to pry the spline ends out enough to allow the spacer to be inserted.
This shot looks a lot like the last one, but the spacer is in place.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install006.jpg
A plug is then inserted & secured W/a snap ring to hold the spacer in place. Make damned sure that snap ring is fully seated into the groove. The snap ring was not seated fully in this shot. I had to fight it a bit W/my crappy snap ring pliers to get it into the bore. After getting it somewhat in place, I used my snap ring pliers to again grasp & rotate the ring to get it seated completely
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install007.jpg
Now you can put a bead of RTV silicone on the cover & apply the cover. Use RTV on the bolt threads & run a bead of RTV in the right rear mount hole threads.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install008.jpg
Install the drive shaft W/the 4 bolts provided W/the kit. Use loctite on the bolts & torque the bolts.
Here we are ready to raise the center section into place after applying the cover & bolting up the driveshaft. Now is a good time to fill the diff W/gear lube. Bill recommends a non synthetic gear lube for quicker break in, changing to synthetic after break in. Since I live @ least 3 hours drive from the nearest drag strip & will be able to break in the gears gradually, I opted to fill it W/75/140 Synthetic gear lube. We put 2 Quarts of gear lube in & it is not all the way full, perhaps 1/2" from the level hole. I will stop & get another quart on the way home from work tomorrow to top it off.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...install011.jpg
Jack the center section into place. Start the rear mount bolts & run them down most of the way, but leave a little wiggle room to align the front mount bolts. The front mount adaptor can be jimmied a bit to make final alignment. Make sure you get @ least 3 threads started before you try to use a ratchet on the front mount adaptor bolts. They can easily be cross threaded in the soft aluminum adaptor. Be patient & get it right the 1st time.
Once all the mount bolts are started & run down most of the way, torque the 2 rear mount & 2 front adaptor bolts. Install & torque the center bearing carrier bolts, install the heat shield & you are ready to replace the cat-back.
Have a few beers.:beerchug:
