Diff Bushing install cost?
 

So, while attempting to install the banzai diff brace, I noticed a fair bit of slop in the diff bushings (could move it an inch almost up and down)... which likely could have been the cause of the wheel hop I was hoping to eliminate with said brace, but I digress...

I've purchased the rx7.com bushings and in reading the numerous write-ups and beginning a home attempt with limited tools/space, it seems as if its one of those "with the right tools it takes an hour tops" kind of jobs... I'm in fear of those 4 bolts on top and pressing the bushing... which leads to the question: has anyone had a shop perform this job and/or got an idea what an approximate cost would be?

As usual, I searched and couldn't find it, but I could be blind.

Thanks

the old bushing have to be pressed out but the new ones will push in with a clamp, i did the job on a lift, i did everything but push the bushing out, its not that bad of a job if you want to try it yourself

Thanks, I've heard that as well; A lift is always useful but I don't have access to one...

Depend on how you want to get the diff down you might need to jack the car up pretty high, I used a transmission jack but with the added height from the jack I was having issue getting them out under the car, I had to jack the car up even higher in order to be able to get them out. You'll need a shop press to get the old bushing out, you can get one for like $150, which will be equal or less than what a shop gonna charge you to do the whole job, so if you have room then I would invest in a press, it comes in handy at times.

This is also a good time to change your diff fluid, and reseal everything if needed.

My total WAG would be a shop rate of two hours labor, average mechanic charges $85 per hour so around $170 at a shop.

It is a pretty simple job to handle. I thought the diff bushings were the easier ones to press out.

Thats about what I've heard as well... I was also debating the $75 harbor freight press, and were my diff fluid not replaced but 4k miles ago I'd definitely be doing that :)

Thanks, ~$200 was what my WAG thoughts were as well, I guess i was looking more specifically at ppl that had had it done and knew if for something like this the ASE certified mechanics in the pro shop opt to do it the full route (removing the diff) which would be a fair bit more involved and also require diff fluid replacement and possibly new seals I believe, so that would get tacked on, etc...

Likely it'll depend on what shop, if its less than $300 I may just break down, save the headache, and chalk it up to my current accommodations and tool availability.

I just did the whole superpro bushing kit install, the most annoying thing about the diff bushing install was taking the brace out! There was very little room, but I managed to get a gear wrench on it and I used part of my jack handle as an attachment for a breaker bar. I literally had about a couple of centimeters to work with, so I would wrench back like 3 clicks, move 3 clicks, and back and forth I went. Once I figured it out it took me about 20min to take out, figuring it out took me like an hr.....The diff bushings are pretty easy to come out, but were a bit harder to put in because when I used the press they just wanted to slide out. I had a friend help me as I couldn't imagine trying to use the press and press those in by yourself, the bushing slips really easy and you have to set it up all over again.

I'm not too sure how handy you are, but if you have a friend to help I would get a press and attempt it yourself. I got my 12 ton for 95 bucks with it on sale and using the 25% harbor freight coupon. The 12 ton worked well too, so not like you have to get the 20 ton, I did every bushing with it.

Oh forgot to mention putting it on, was a piece of cake, just put it on the bolts and tightened it down and then jacked the diff up, once the bushings slid in place I put the bolts through the bushing and tightened it all back up, took less then 10min, well maybe 15min.

My $200 guess would be for a professional, drop your car off and pick it up price. You have to drop the diff either way. That's not optional in a bushing swap. They don't have to drain diff fluid though to swap the mount bushings. Regardless draining fluid and topping back off takes all of 5 min. You wouldn't need to replace any seals unless you pull the cover off, and unless you ask them to do so they wouldn't opt to do it for the fun of it. I think you are assuming it's more complicated than it is. It's two bolts to drop the diff, four bolts to remove the mount. Two bushing to press out and then reverse order install. With a lift and a press it's a 1.5 hour job if your taking your sweet ass time.

You don't have to remove the whole diff, just get the diff to sag down and remove the mount from the top of the diff (4 nuts hold it on).

With the center exhaust part out and the powerplant frame out, support the diff and undo the 2 bolts that hold the diff to the subframe. Let it hang down. Now you can get to the 4 nuts on the top, then take that to a shop or a buddy's press to press the old bushings out. New bushings (as stated) pop in by hand very easily.

If you don't have air tools, the job will be a CHORE. The powerplant frame itself is a bitch to do by hand, a piece of cake with an impact gun.

Dale

Thanks for the replies, little update... so Ive gotten the diff dropped (clarify: not removed) and am currently stuck, as i feared i would be, at the 4 bolts on top. The day prior I had it up on the stands and sprayed it liberally with pb blaster. My air tool-less and weak-ass self had some choice words with my weak-ass self as I made a 45 minute attempt to break even 1 loose (I can get a tool on, AND a bar wedged for leverage, but still no dice...) sprayed more pb, then resigned myself to have another go tomorrow.

If that goes south then I'll see if i can con some friends into either bringing air tools or some muscle, if not... I just hate to get this far & fail...

Air tools are a must. It is tough to hold that thing on the floor and get the leverage needed to break them loose. Throw that thing in you daily driver and go to your local auto repair shop. Anyplace that works on cars or trucks can spin those off in 1 minute.

Or this is a good excuse to buy a good compressor and impact setup!

If you unbolt the 12mm bolts that hold the parking brake cable to the top of the diff you can get it to droop down farther so you have a straighter shot for a ratchet. Or, use 2 combination wrenches doubled up to get more power.

BTW, for less than $200 at Harbor Freight you could get an air compressor and an impact gun. That will change your LIFE.

Dale

I did mine without an impact, those 4 nuts are easy to get off with a breaker bar if you take the whole thing out, once you set the diff on the ground and one side of the carrier touching the ground, you can use a breaker bar and the whole thing won't move.

Don't need air tools for this, just a gear wrench and breaker bar. You will probably be frustrated and relieved at the same time when you get it off. Once I got the jack handle to fit on the end of the gear wrench it didn't take long before it was off. I was frustrated because it was pretty easy, just took me awhile before I figured it out. Air tools would be nice, but I didn't have an available tool. Good luck, you will eventually get it.

Use either wrench on wrench trick, a breaker bar or my personal favorite. Box end wrench on the nut and wack the other side with a hammer.

this may be of use to you:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-arch...nstall-294744/