95 front astro differential rebuild

ANYTHING TO DO WITH MAKING YOUR VAN MOVE EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINE ITSELF.
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Topic author
drama
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by drama »

I was looking up a few sites and videos for good pics or videos of a rebuild from tear off to install. But I was unable to find anything.

I plan to climb under, yank it out and rebuild it. Is there any tips or instructions others that went through this could give me?
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by doyoulikeithere »

No tips from me on that one, except that there is a member here who actually found and rebuilt a 'cast iron' front diff for an astrovan.
Identical to our aluminum units, except way stronger.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

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Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by Captn. Crunch »

Hello
I may be the one Doyoulikeitthere spoke of. I do have a cast iron front diff from an S-10 that I plan on re-building, upgrading to limited slip and installing in my 99. It seems every time I get the money together for the limited slip from engineered performance something else breaks so i have yet to rebuild on remove and replace. Here is a link to a ZR2 site I'm a sponsored member on that might help answer some of your questions. Have fun and post lots of pics!!!

http://www.zr2usa.com/mboard/index.php? ... 303&page=1
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s

photo_van
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Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by photo_van »

1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Topic author
drama
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:29 am

Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by drama »

I am just getting around to doing this rebuild. But I had a question trying to figure out if it was a crappy mechanic or something else is wrong. I was looking at diagrams and it appears there are spacers that go on the end of the tube assembly. But there was none on my van. I am posting a few links of the diagrams and a photo from my van. I bought the national r320-a to rebuild it. But I want to make sure there isn't more parts I need before I get into ripping it apart. It appears something rusted off awhile ago. I want to figure out the part name so I can locate a replacement, or if anyone had a good way to fill the gap.

Any help you could offer will be great.

http://www.fixya.com/fullimage.html?src ... 7d42aa.gif

Image

Topic author
drama
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I am merely driving my van
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Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by drama »

Here is a different angle.

Image

Captn. Crunch
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Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by Captn. Crunch »

drama
I have a link that might be helpful to you. It's on the zr2usa site. The only issue is not being a member means you can't open all the pics he's posted of his rebuild. Possibly you can contact an administrator to gain access.

http://www.zr2usa.com/mboard/index.php? ... 303&page=1

The front diffs are all the same. The only difference is the two piece passenger side axle on the 4x4's. there's no difference between aluminum and cast iron diffs other than the metal obviously.

Good luck and let us know how you make out!
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s

photo_van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: 95 front astro differential rebuild

Post by photo_van »

By spacers at the end of the tube; do you mean axle tube where the axle seal is?? If so, I don't think there are spacers there. I can say for sure that my '98 didn't have them.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
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