2003 Axles premature failure q's

[babbage]

I've heard that premature axle failure is fairly common on 03 Marauders.


Before I trade in my 2002 P71 - I was going to remove the:

28 Spline trak-lok unit that has the carbon fiber clutches in it - got it from Reinhart - has less than 3000 miles on it.

Trick Flow 8.8 Girdle & 3.73 FRPP ring and pinon (save for Marauder)

Then I was just going to order another master bearing kit and install it on the axles and have it all installed - so the rear diff & bearing will be essentially new. (Going to use AMSOIL 75W-110 Synth)

Or should I worry about the quality of the metal in the axles themselves.

Thanks all.

[gmtech]

The axles themeselves are a problem as well. When i replaced mine with the TSB kit my axles were badly worn. They say the issue is the material in the axles were the bearing rides is "soft"

[babbage]

Ok thanks, so really I should buy new axles then. Do you have the TSB and/or Part numbers? Or should I go with aftermarket axles?

I looked at Dorman Axles for my crown vic a while back, they use a rolled spline instead of cut spline which makes them much stronger than stock.

http://www.dormanproducts.com/catalog/OESolutions2006/431-434RearAxleShafts.pdf

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=RNB-630-214&view=1&N=700+

[DOOM]

I was thinking about doing the 31 spline setup. my marauder is a 04 so i dont think i have that weak axle issue. I was going to do it because my car is making about 450 RWTQ :D :burnout: . So what do you guys think? Are my stock axles strong enough to handle 450 RWTQ?

[Zack]

I was thinking about doing the 31 spline setup. my marauder is a 04 so i dont think i have that weak axle issue. I was going to do it because my car is making about 450 RWTQ :D :burnout: . So what do you guys think? Are my stock axles strong enough to handle 450 RWTQ?

Everything is good enough until it breaks.

I have the stock axles in my Marauder if that helps.

[O's Fan Rich]

I've heard that premature axle failure is fairly common on 03 Marauders.


Before I trade in my 2002 P71 - I was going to remove the:

28 Spline trak-lok unit that has the carbon fiber clutches in it - got it from Reinhart - has less than 3000 miles on it.

Trick Flow 8.8 Girdle & 3.73 FRPP ring and pinon (save for Marauder)

Then I was just going to order another master bearing kit and install it on the axles and have it all installed - so the rear diff & bearing will be essentially new. (Going to use AMSOIL 75W-110 Synth)

Or should I worry about the quality of the metal in the axles themselves.

Thanks all.

Yes. That sounds like the right way to go.

[justbob]

Part # 3W1Z*4A109*AA. It includes axles, bearings, seals, new bolt for the pin, new tag for diff cover, and oil. No Friction Modifier included so that is the only other item needed.

Do not pay $417.26 (list price)! With only a smile i paid $298.34 before tax!

Your welcome.

[gmtech]

Part # 3W1Z*4A109*AA. It includes axles, bearings, seals, new bolt for the pin, new tag for diff cover, and oil. No Friction Modifier included so that is the only other item needed.

Do not pay $417.26 (list price)! With only a smile i paid $298.34 before tax!

Your welcome.


Yep thats it, kit comes with everytning but modifier & its pretty cheap too.

[DOOM]

How many of you guys still running stock axles with more than 425RWHP?

[justbob]

Not sure of my rwhp. 380? For now even after a little more work i have zero plans changing it to 31's.

[DOOM]

Everything is good enough until it breaks.

I have the stock axles in my Marauder if that helps.

Zack what type of power are you making? How long?

[CKMustangCobra]

I knew mine where going bad when I started to hear a wob wob wob wob noise that changed with vehicle speed.

It was the passenger side axle. The axle surface acts as the race of the bearing... it started a groove and eventually wore about .040" of metal off.

Swap was easy and I did it in my driveway with Jackstands.

[RoyLPita]

I knew mine where going bad when I started to hear a wob wob wob wob noise that changed with vehicle speed.

It was the passenger side axle. The axle surface acts as the race of the bearing... it started a groove and eventually wore about .040" of metal off.

Swap was easy and I did it in my driveway with Jackstands.

And he bought a take off kit from me. I still have a pair left.

[xopher]

Probably going to do this in April. I've got some n00b questions.


Part # 3W1Z*4A109*AA. It includes axles, bearings, seals, new bolt for the pin, new tag for diff cover, and oil. No Friction Modifier included so that is the only other item needed.

Do not pay $417.26 (list price)! With only a smile i paid $298.34 before tax!

Your welcome.
Where?


And he bought a take off kit from me. I still have a pair left.
What is a take off kit?

e: Found this at :
OEM Catalog
Item Number 3W1Z4A109AA "KIT-RR AX SH SHFT,B"
MSRP $417.26
Price $309.82

Is this right?

[Zack]

Zack what type of power are you making? How long?

Ive had stock axles since 03, when they were replaced under the TSB.

They have been to hell and back with no issues. I credit my control arms to their long life. :up:

[RoyLPita]

Probably going to do this in April. I've got some n00b questions.


Where?


What is a take off kit?

e: Found this at :
OEM Catalog
Item Number 3W1Z4A109AA "KIT-RR AX SH SHFT,B"
MSRP $417.26
Price $309.82

Is this right?

I have axles that were taken out of CVPIs with low mileage that had the recall done. However, these shafts were installed recently before the recall came out.

[jabird56]

If I remember correctly, it was the early 03 production cars that were affected. There should be a reference to the TSB in the thread archive there somewhere.

Below is the Ford TSB/Recall site..

http://www.ford.com/owner-services/maintenance-service/recall-information#mercury

[CKMustangCobra]

The axles I got from RoyLpita have been trouble free since installation.

Up to Virginia and back along with 3K miles other misc driving.

[rayjay]

The axles on my 04 were good, the seals were not and failed at about 58K.

[Siege]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5135/tsb0355.jpg

[Paul T. Casey]

FWIW, I went approx. 175,000 miles on my early build '03. May have made a pass or 2 down the track also. Noticed the whine shortly after I blew the posi, so it was probably related.

[Egon Spengler]

Mine are stock up to 95,000 miles... the curb I hit has since changed that... man, I want her back!

[babbage]

Part # 3W1Z*4A109*AA. It includes axles, bearings, seals, new bolt for the pin, new tag for diff cover, and oil. No Friction Modifier included so that is the only other item needed.

Do not pay $417.26 (list price)! With only a smile i paid $298.34 before tax!

Your welcome.

Cool Thanks - I'm sure I can get close to that pricing from my local Ford Dealer.