Do_It_Sidewayz wrote on 10/14/11 at 08:11:06:Dave,
Changing out the centre diff is very doable in the car.
I personally have made the same mistake putting things back together, and cracked the case.
FWIW, from the looks of your picture, you took the entire "centre diff" section off the rest of the transmission... To replace the centre diff you really don't have to do this. You can very simply just take off the "tail section" which is the furthest rearway piece, and swap things out. It is a bit of a pain to get things lined up when going back together, but enough playing around and you will get it. I've swapped out the centre diffs in a couple hrs on my back, with the car just on stands, no real problem.
Thanks Chris, now that I had it apart, I have realized what you are saying. The centre diff actually comes out throught the back cover, and I didn't need to take the whole section out. It seems to me that this will make it much easier to do in the car.
Should go something like this? - Drop the driveshaft, break some bolts, swear, remove back cover, replace diff, line it up, swear some more, get it lined up properly, put drive shaft back.
I think I will take a shot at this after the rally-X on Oct. 23. I am reluctant to start and not get it done and miss the rally-X, since it is the only one that I am going to get to this year.