It rains a lot here, as in frequently, but I wouldn't call it heavy.

Sounds like you have a water ingress issue.

Also, diff fluid is not cheap but $350 is ridiculous.

Finally, the dealer (in Lynnwood) is more reasonable than you think. They actually have a labor rate they apply to older Rovers that is competitive with the Indy shops. Give them a call. I don't go anywhere else; they are awesome. I've had my LR3 for 15 years this June...

 

Sorry to revise an old thread but having the same issues and the cv shaft is stuck to the diff. That's after the front was frozen in the hub and damaged the cv getting it out hence the new CV shaft. Have tension on the outer/inner part of the cv joint connected to the diff with a tie strap and used pry bars etc and it's not budging. 3 hours of trying to get it off. and I know its that stupid c clip. This is on the drivers side so no way of getting a punch in.

 

BFH needed. Pry bars can work but sometimes you need some heavy inertia behind the force to pop it. So a Big Fu...Hammer will probably pop it. It helps to have a rod or something to make sure the blow is directed in the direction you want it pulled and not directing the hit at too much an upward angle.

 

Im on my back with a foot or more. Not a lot of leverage and not

able to get a good wack from the bottom. This front end rebuild is killing me. Luckily the only part I didn't have is the axle and now I do. Replacing drivers side tie rods, lower control arm, hub, sway bar end links and now axle.

 

Okay, just ratchet up that strap to dangerous territory and hit that large CV body with a hammer - not super hard, you are trying to make vibrations. With enough tension the repeated hits may cause the clip to walk just enough to pop.

 

I finally was able to remove the cv from the diff using modified fingers with a slide hammer. After 2-3 days of pounding and cutting parts off I was able to put everything back together in 2 hours. Funny how that works.​​​​​​​