I'm posting here as you guys always seem to be helpful and fast. This is on a 01 Dodge Ram 1500 4wd with a Dana 44 up front. I know I sound like an idiot here but well, I can't get the diff cover off. I've done this before and just taken a screwdriver and beat it in the edges with a hammer to go pry the cover off. Well, I can't get it to go inbetween the cover and housing this time no matter how I seem to beat on the screw driver. I've got all the bolts out and the rtv is holding it super tight. Any ideas? I stuck a huge screwdriver more like a prybar into the fill hole and try to pry it off there to no avail. Any ideas on how to get this thing off?

 

Brute force.. slam it with a big hammer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSVTEC 91 Civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Brute force.. slam it with a big hammer. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Might dent it... you could try some piano/mechanics wire to get behind it.

 

I finally got my front diff cover off. I took a break from the front and went to do the rear. Well, got the rear done and went to work on the front again. I finally got it off. Well, I noticed after I got the cover off that this piece had a sort of knick in it. It just was like it was knicked and rough feeling you know how when you knick something a little metal sticks up. I don't know how in the world it got like that as my happering and stuff wouldn't have affected that. Anyway is it okay to leave? Should I file it down or just leave it alone? I'm just a perfectionsist but how critical is this? Basically should I leave it alone or file it down? What would you all do?

Here are some pictures.
You can't really see it here just the piece it's on. It's the left C thing thats bolted in.

 

Learn how to use the macro feature on your camera, lol.

What exactly got nicked? If something is going to be put against it then file it smooth. If it's just chilling there then don't worry about it.

 

that is the diff bearing cap. you will be fine

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Hick &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Learn how to use the macro feature on your camera, lol.

What exactly got nicked? If something is going to be put against it then file it smooth. If it's just chilling there then don't worry about it.</TD></TR></TABLE>I know I need to I just don't know how.<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by newby_j &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that is the diff bearing cap. you will be fine
</TD></TR></TABLE>I'm worried the piece that sticks up where it got knicked or whatever will break off then mess something up. Should I not be worried about this? I have a feeling I shouldn't but I'm just paranoid. Is there any harm in taking a file to it and making it smooth?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hometheaterman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know I need to I just don't know how</TD></TR></TABLE>

You talking about finding macro mode? It looks like a flower on the camera... somewhere on the back side where all the function buttons are.

 

I don't see anything like that on my camera. I have a dial thing on top that you turn to change different modes. It doesn't have a flower looking icon either. It's a Cannon Powershot A530 camera.


As for the diff issue one more stupid question. When putting the diff cover on I'm afraid I'm going to get RTV inside the diff. Well after putting it on it smushes some out the outside but if you put your finger in the fill hole and feel around the edge you can feel where some has come to the inside of the diff cover when it smushes it down. So basically it's on the inside. Is this okay? I've redone the gasket on the valve cover 3 times. This is really worrying me. I want everything to be 100% perfect as I don't want to spend any more money on this darn truck. Is this okay or will it come off in there and mess something up?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hometheaterman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't see anything like that on my camera. I have a dial thing on top that you turn to change different modes. It doesn't have a flower looking icon either. It's a Cannon Powershot A530 camera.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes you do, it's on the bottom of the main button where it says "MF":

 

I see it now. Thanks. I was looking right over it.

 

lol, well H-T couldn't help you get the diff cover off... but at least you know how to use the macro feature on your camera now.

 

RTV in the diff won't hurt it, the gears can withstand 300 ft/lbs of torque they sure as hell aren't going to get broken by some silicon. Why are you taking them off anyways?

 

you are fine, that burr will never pop off. if you are scared of it, just pull it off with a pair of pliers haha.

makes me wonder how many parts you've actually dented up inside an engine or whatnot during teardown/reassembly. things are amazingly resistant to brute force attacks when they arent direct friction surfaces....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Twixle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">RTV in the diff won't hurt it, the gears can withstand 300 ft/lbs of torque they sure as hell aren't going to get broken by some silicon. Why are you taking them off anyways?</TD></TR></TABLE>I took the covers off to just change the fluid on my truck.

 

you can just get a 5 dollar suction gun, and suck the fluid out next time..

 

Best tool for that are those cool vibration paddle guns that glass technicians use to cut through windshield sealer.