Schaeffler reveals new LuK BMW differential repair solution

REPXPERT installation guide outlines key areas of the repair process

Schaeffler reveals new LuK BMW differential repair solution

Among the latest products released by Schaeffler are gearbox and differential repair kits, containing all the components required to complete a professional gearbox or differential overhaul, and with 21 kits available, all of the most popular applications are covered.

One of the most popular of these new repair opportunities is for a BMW differential (part number 462 0148 10); one which most independent workshops would currently just source and fit a reconditioned differential, therefore losing out on the healthy profit to be gained from overhauling the unit themselves.

The average price for the BMW repair kit is around £150, while a reconditioned diff can cost between £500 and £600.

This leaves a minimum of scope of £350 for labour, and with the job taking around three hours, this is a £100+ an hour job that independent workshops could be taking advantage of.

Schaeffler’s leading REPXPERT, Alistair Mason, recently put together a quick installation guide, outlining some of the key areas of the repair process.

Step-by-step process

  1. First, detach the differential from the vehicle and drain the oil.
  2. Remove the locking ring from the pinion nut then unscrew the nut using a counter hold tool.
  3. Next, remove the differential back plate and both output shaft oil seals.
  4. Detach the crown wheel bearing retaining circlips, which will require circlip pliers – note how thick they are on removal, as they’ll be used again – then, if necessary, remove corrosion from the bearing casing.
  5. Slide the crown from side-to-side to ease the bearings out, then, with the bearings removed, swivel the crown wheel assembly out of the casing – crown wheel first.
  6. Disconnect the pinion assembly, which may need to be pressed out, as the front bearing is a tight fit, then take away the pinion oil seal and front pinion bearing.
  7. Remove the inner bearing race from the pinion and press out the front pinion bearing race, before drawing out the rear pinion outer bearing race with a puller or slide hammer.
  8. Once the spacer shim has been removed, the differential casing is fully-stripped. Remove any corrosion from the seal location points and clean the differential casing thoroughly.
  9. Detach both bearing inner races from the crown wheel and clean the assembly, then press the new crown wheel inner race bearings into place.
  10. Press in the new outer bearings into the differential casing and the new rear pinion bearing onto the pinion, then lubricate the new bearings, install the pinion into position, fit the new collapsible spacer and then the front bearing.
  11. Fit the new pinion oil seal and mount the pinion drive flange. Attach the counter hold tool to the pinion flange and torque the pinion nut to 170Nm; however, greater force may be necessary in a bid to collapse the spacer. Once torqued, check for smooth rotation and, using a spring balance, tighten the pinion nut until 2kg of force is required to rotate.
  12. Install the crown wheel assembly, which is achieved by sliding the new bearing into position, then refit the circlips noted earlier in the removal process, other bearing and remaining circlip.
  13. Engineers Blue, paint one of the pinion teeth and rotate the pinion to transfer the Engineers Blue onto the crown wheel tooth. The marking should be in the centre area of the tooth. If the crown wheel tooth is marked in the outer area, the shimming is too loose; just the inner area would indicate too tight.
  14. At this point, a slight ‘backlash’ should be felt, which can be confirmed with a DTI gauge (0.15mm). Once confirmed, run a thin bead of sealer to the back plate mounting face, refit the back plate and fit the driveshaft seals.
  15. Finally, refit the differential onto the vehicle and fill the correct grade and quantity of oil.

With installation instructions and videos available on Schaeffler’s REPXPERT portal, Schaeffler offers new opportunities to independent workshops, without the need to make huge investment in tooling.

A REPXPERT spokesperson said: “With routine service schedule mileages increasing, timing belts being changed later and hybrid and electric vehicles becoming more popular, independent workshops are having to work harder to ensure they stay busy.

“Schaeffler is seeing a trend in the automotive industry where investment in ‘up-skilling’ to plan for the future and to keep all repairs ‘in-house’ is at the forefront of workshop’s minds.

“As a leading original equipment manufacturer and supplier, we are fully aware of this, and by offering innovative new repair solutions we can help support the future of the indepenedent aftermarket.”

For further information, select ‘more details’ below.

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