Third member stand

[highfructose]

For people doing a locker or gear job, is there a recommended (potentially DIY) 3rd member stand for holding the differential while you work on it?

I see a few “tool stands” for around $50 at harbor freight. Would these be a decent starting point?

Universal Tool Stand

Amazing deals on this Universal Tool Stand at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[100kiwi]

A piece of angle iron in a vice with two holes drilled in it.

 

[supercarrera]

I used an idea I read about on Mud. I took a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket, turned it upside down and cut a hole in the bottom just big enough so the third member doesn't fall through. I also added a hole in the side to put my hand in to turn the pinion. That stand looks pretty cool too though.

 

[bloc]

I don't have a picture but I used to pieces of angle iron off the end of a workbench with C-clamps holding those to the surface. Made for a very solid attachment, good enough to torque the bearing and ring bolts as described in another thread. Due to the heft of the workbench it was more solid than having the diff carrier clamped in the press, in my case.

 

[KLF]

It's been many years since I've done any diff work, but this is what I did, similar to @bloc. Two pieces of 1.5 x 1.5 angle iron clamped to a Workmate. The blue lid on the floor is to catch the gear oil drool. Very stable, although not strong enough to do the final crush of the pinion sleeve and set the pinion torque. I had the other end of one of those pieces drilled for 2 bolts in the pinion, which I would clamp securely to my big bench. Did at least a dozen diffs this way, worked great. (pic is from 2006)