How do you get spider gears back into a diff?

[Gareth Randall]

I’ve just done the rear wheel bearings on my 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a thrust washer was shaken out from behind one of the spider gears while I was using the slide hammer. Since it came out with the gear in place, logic suggests it ought to go back in without needing to take the gear out, but just in case I do manage to dislodge the spider(s) as well, can somebody explain how I get them back in?

I’ve Googled in hopes of finding a how-to video, but can’t see anything.

From my very limited understanding, you essentially just position the spider between the two side gears and turn the diff, and it will sort of “spin itself in”?

Topic

[Joeseph Mama]

could you show us a pic of your situation

[Gareth Randall]

I have no pics of the diff, but it would look completely normal anyway. All that’s happened is that this thrust washer has been dislodged from behind one of the spiders while the pinion shaft was removed:

[Joe]

slide the pinion shaft down and it should fit right back on the back of the spider gear. You should be able to fit the spider gear into the side and rotate it back into place where you can slide the pinion shaft through the upper and lower gears.

[college man]

looks like it fits on the smaller spider gears.

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/standard-differential-gear-set-4740670.html

[Gareth Randall]

I know exactly which spider it’s supposed to be attached to, I just want to know the procedure for getting spiders back in should I manage to dislodge them while trying to get the washer back in.

[Its me]

OK… QuickNPainless explained it, but I’ll try to simplify it a bit more… Look at this pic…

You see the long pin on the bottom left (center pin)? See the bolt to the right of it…That holds the center pin from sliding out.. remove that bolt, turn the differential carrier until it reaches a position in which the pin will slide out… The spider gears may stay in place, or fall out… Just be prepared for this..

The center pin holds the spider gears in… With it removed you can pull back on the spider gear to install it, or slide it in under the spider gear…

Set the center pin back to position and re-install the bolt…

-Karl

[JOHN SHORE]

WHICH DIFF DO U HAVE AND YEAR, TAG NUMBER REALLY HELPS.
JOHN

[Gareth Randall]

It’s a completely standard Dana 35 open diff. I got the washer back in behind the spider without the spider coming out, although just to add to the fun the washer on the opposite spider fell out as well. I realised it’s not that difficult, just a bit of a PITA to be doing it while lying under the car. Would have been much easier with the Jeep at head height on a lift, but then I guess that goes for a lot of jobs 🙂

[Author]

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