I replaced my diff bushings with mazda comp ones. I noticed once I bolted the diff and retaining plates in that there is a large gap between the retaining plate bushing and the diff housing, so much so that I can out my fingers in between. Due to marks on the housing I assume that the retaining bushings would rest on the housing but I am not sure. The way the bushings are in all the way and this gap is the same on both sides. Is this normal? Please see attached photos

 

Is your car jacked up from under the differential in these pictures? Before I put poly diff bushings in my car, if I jacked up the car under the diff, I had space like this.

 

Did you torque the big nut to spec?

If it reached the spec, then the metal sleeve in the bushing is seated against the subframe at one end and the lower mount at the other. At that point, the bushing is doing its job and there's nothing to be done.

 

no, I made sure that wasn’t the case as the car is on jack stands and I removed the jack from the diff

both the big nut and the smaller nuts are torqued to spec