Grinding diff "fins" 4 easy starter removal

[BonesDT]

I'm replacing my starter for the umpteenth time and I'm sick of trying to finangle the starter out of the tight space which makes a 10-minute job take over an hour.

There are these two "fins" on the rearward part of the front differential. Grinding the upper fin no more than 1/2" would allow the unbolted starter to fall right out of the truck. My question is, can I grind these "fins" down without worry? I'm guessing they're solid and no diff fluid runs in them. I'm assuming they are simply an overkill structural support for the diff.

I apologize for the lack of a picture, but I'm sure if there's anyone here who has replaced their starter on the 4x4, then they know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[IZwack]

Get grinding!

 

[Lefy]

i like this idea

 

[96eb96]

I'm replacing my starter for the umpteenth time and I'm sick of trying to finangle the starter out of the tight space which makes a 10-minute job take over an hour.

There are these two "fins" on the rearward part of the front differential. Grinding the upper fin no more than 1/2" would allow the unbolted starter to fall right out of the truck. My question is, can I grind these "fins" down without worry? I'm guessing they're solid and no diff fluid runs in them. I'm assuming they are simply an overkill structural support for the diff.

I apologize for the lack of a picture, but I'm sure if there's anyone here who has replaced their starter on the 4x4, then they know exactly what I'm talking about.

Umm..why are you replacing a starter so frequently???

 

[BonesDT]

Umm..why are you replacing a starter so frequently???

That's my question. I have no idea. It goes once every year or two. If I'm lucky, it blows just in time for the 1 year warranty! So far, my latest one is holding up good. I did do a manual trans swap, so maybe something is slightly misaligned causing stress on the starter. I also do stupid sht like blowing my clutch out on the trail, then trying to "tow" my truck of the trail using the starter in 1st gear. Actually, my most probably diagnosis is that I had to cut the top starter to bellhousing bolt short so it will screw all the way in. I noticed this bolt would work it's way loose once in a while. I know, I know, loctite, but I really torqued it good last time, so I'm pretty confident.

BTW, I found all I have to do is unbolt the single bolt from the diff and that works it really loose from the frame and changing starters is a breeze now!