What's the quickest way to get one of these on the ground using junkyard terrorist tactics? Any special tools required? Even just "moderately special" like a deep socket because a regular socket bottoms out.

If you can recall what size wrenches/sockets/whatever are needed, the more data the better.

 

Ratchets (at least 2)
Sockets - normal & deep (10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm)
Screw drivers
Pry bar
Cheater bar (something that will fit over your ratchet).
Vice grips
Mallet
Tin snips
Hammer
PB Blaster
Normal & stubby wrenches (same mm as sockets)
Leather work gloves
Blue paper towel

That's about it... I just take a big tool box of all major tools to my junk yard visits... apparently this is your first JY adventure?

Removing the diff isn't hard, just time consuming. It took me about 1.5hrs to rip out an LSD diff from an 87 Z31T last year.

In a nut shell:
-Remove the 4 bolts holding the drive shaft to the diff coupler
-Remove the diff mount nuts / bolts. I believe they are doubled up?
-Loosen the 4 main mounting bolts, but don't remove them until you are ready to drop it out.
-Disconnect one of the cv's at the coupler bolts... if you can't rotate it, you'll have to cannibalize the cv boot to get the shaft disconnected.
-Once you have 1 cv popped out, you can remove the 4 long mounting bolts, scoot the diff to one side, and pop out the other cv. Then you just wiggle it down... just remember it weighs about 80lbs.

Done.

 

Awesome details - thanks.

You have no idea how funny that is. I know you don't know me, so I'm not laughing at you - here's an introduction of sorts so you can laugh too...

http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/vi...ght=xrcutioner

http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/vi...ghlight=toyota

http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/vi...light=junkyard

http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/vi...light=junkyard

Any way, I generally like to travel as light as possible in the junkyard, especially if I have plans to carry something heavy back out. Sometimes I'll even making a scouting run first (with little to no tools), and then return with the tools I need. I don't mind walking - it's the walking with a load that I could do without.

 

Pull driveshaft, undue the four front mounting bolts (pretty sure they where 12mm and are through bolted) undue the two rear bolts (17mm?) pop out the CV shafts and your done. It would probably be easier to just drop the subframe, cut the brake lines and cables and drag it out from under the car though.

 

Wheelbarrow... no carrying tools out to the car, no carrying tools or parts back. Most "pick n pull" junk yards lend them for free or for $1/day. I sure as hell wouldn't be carrying an 80lb diff back anyway...

 

I doubt you'd be able to get the first one out unless the outside end is loosened in some manner, no? As Nismo pointed out, once you get one side unfastened, then you should be able to shove it to one side and pop the other out.

 

From what I remember with the diff hanging it should make it easier to pop out the shafts.

 

The U-Pull I go to most often doesn't have wheel barrows and it's on the side of a hill. It's a good work-out regardless. They do have "yard cars" they'll let you use for 15 minutes but there's often a wait. I've carried some heavy stuff, but you're right, I probably wouldn't carry an iron diff too far.

 

Any other car I've tried that, it binds before allowing the pumpkin to fall to the ground.

 

You can always try it with the diff in the car,