How to Install DIF Solid Differential Bushings 95'-98' 240SX
Difficulty: Moderate
The DiF solid differential bushing eliminate the slop of the oem rubber bushings in the front of the 240sx differential housing. This modification is recommended when doing other things to the differential, such as changing out the internals, fixing a gasket leak, or changing out the rear differential cover.
Note that this bushing is only needed for S14 ('95-'98 240sx) differentials. S13 ('89-'94) differentials do not have rubber bushings in front, although they can use S14 differentials with a swapped rear differential cover.
Step 1
If the differential is still installed on the car you will need to jack up the car and place it on jack stands.
The differential is connected to the axles via 6 bolts and nuts on either side.
It is connected to the subframe via 2 or 4 nuts and 2 bolts in the front.
There are 4 bolts and nuts attaching the differential to the driveshaft.
Step 2
If you remove the rear sway bar and possibly the exhaust it makes it a lot easier to drop the differential. A transmission jack is handy for lowering the differential to the ground as well as a second person.
Once the differential is out, you can remove the stock bushings. Flip the differential upside down. If you have a press, you can press out the old bushing.
If not, a 7/8' socket and a heavy metal mallet work to push the metal sleeve out of the bushing hole.
Step 3
To the left you can see the stock bushing is removed from the left hole and still attached on the right hole.
After the stock bushing is removed, you can slip on the DIF solid differential bushing pieces. The washer side goes on top, while the other piece slips in through the bottom.
Install is opposite of removal.
1 comment
Great write-up! I’m currently prepping my S14 for a full subframe refresh and was debating between the solid bushings and the Nismo reinforced rubber ones. Since I’m planning to use this car for some long-distance trips to the coast once it’s finished, how much NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) did you notice after switching to the DIF solids?
Also, a bit of a random logistical question—I’m actually looking into moving the car (and myself) to Spain later this year to work on some projects in Malaga. I’ve been reading up on the paperwork needed for car registration and residency there, and I came across this service for the NIE number: https://e-residence.com/pt/nie-spain-online/malaga/. Do you, or anyone in the community here, happen to know if having a NIE is mandatory for registering an imported modified vehicle under your own name in Andalusia, or can that be handled later in the process? Thanks for the help!