Circlip to bolted plate - at home with drill, box in place

[james_swimmer]

Has anybody changed from the circlip to a bolted plate? I know some guys have said on here that they've taken it to a gear box specialist and they've done it for £400-600.

But is it possible to block up all gaps around the diff with clean rags to stop any swarf getting in the box, drilling and tapping(?) the diff to fit the 182 plated arrangement?

My dad is a fitter and turner so is a deft hand with things like this, so hopefully we should be able to do it, I can't see any reasons why not.

Are there any differences between diff parts on a 172cup and 182?

Of course i would plan on taking photos of the process to help others, well that is if nobody points out any blindingly obvious reasons not to do it?!

Thanks for any help, time to solve this circlip problem once and for all!:S

 

[james_swimmer]

Such as this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180477721274

 

[Fred@BTM]

i'd love to know what people are doing to their cars to cause this! I've seen one failure on a williams and that's it

 

[james_swimmer]

Hi Fred, I'm fairly new on here and have noted your wealth of experience of clios.

But, I've also noted your comments on previous circlip threads. Surely renault modified the circlip arrangement on the 182 for a reason?

I've only had the car for a month so cannot be sure how much it was abused before i bought it. But it is clear to me that the teeth on the rear of the inner cv joint (the part that the needle bearings sit in) create lateral force on the circlip and tab washer, trying to push them out.

Both times mine has gone on corners in 2nd under full load over 5k revs, and i'm pretty sure both times i hit a bump as well. So i was driving the car for what i assume it was made for...spirited driving.