Pain in the Rear!

[Black bart]

Hi Fellow Marauders:

This morning dropped my Marauder at a local rear end specialist to have the 4:10 gears installed.

Just called me to inform me that both axels are showing some pitting, spider gears and the cultch pack are loose. In short a new rear end rebuild to the tune of $1300.00!

Now my Marauder has 75K of road miles. Very few burn-outs…with the 3:55 can’t do much anyway.

No rear end noise, clunks or any sign of leakage.

Am wondering if the rear end is really in such a state total rebuild!

Any one experienced the same extant of rear end wear?

[GreekGod]

...$1300 sounds about right, but if you need axles, you should convert to 31 spline axles, and the 31 spline differential, also (of course they must match).

Axle shaft bearing surface wear/pitting is a common problem, well documented on this website. It is the major design defect of the Salisbury design. It has nothing to do with burn-outs. It would happen to Grandma Grunt, even if she only drove it to church on Sundays.

I wish someone would offer a NASCAR type, full-floating axles, 9" conversion for the Panther chassis. I'm told the Watts link is a problem with the 9" removable chunk.

[Black bart]

Well you are probably right on all points but I decided just to have the 4:10 gears installed and I’ll do the rest with my son’s assistance.

I only sweated the Pinion Depth and Crush Bearing tolerances any way. The carrier shims will be a straight forward remove and replace per side.

Spiders and Clutch Packs are also easy…done them before on 9” fords.

I have considered the 31spline set-up but decided since the Marauder will remain NA cannot justify the need for the 31 spline strength.

See Ya

[Mebot]

Hmm, my MM got 75k too. I've got 4.10s I want to throw in as well, but i'm saving up some $$ to get em installed. Looks like I'll have to wait a little longer so I can budget in some unforseen things.

That's the problem with the rears is you don't know what you got till you take em off. I have to make sure i'm ready if, in fact, I have the same issues as you.

Best of luck though. Let us know how you like the 4.10s once you ride them!

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

Is your an '03 or '04. I'm planning on having the differential serviced before the extended service expires.

[GreekGod]

...I have considered the 31spline set-up but decided since the Marauder will remain NA cannot justify the need for the 31 spline strength....

Even the 2 valve 4.6 OEM Gran Marquis have been getting 31 spline axles for ~ 3 or 4 years now (2005<?)

[Black bart]

Is your an '03 or '04. I'm planning on having the differential serviced before the extended service expires.

My Marauder is a 2003, 300A with just about all of the normal bolt-on mods & lidio tune.

Due to traffic condition not much chance to test the new gears however this morning did punch it merging on to hwy 17 over the "hill". Pulls hard and revs quick!

[Black bart]

Even the 2 valve 4.6 OEM Gran Marquis have been getting 31 spline axles for ~ 3 or 4 years now (2005<?)

Hmmmm, OK why? I have a town car with the 4.6 ltr single over head cam, and it has some thing on the order of 240 ft lbs of torque. Not enough to strain a 28 spline axle or carrier.


However is if you are correct then I'll make a trp to my friendly auto weaker and buy the GM axle and carrier and rebuild if nessacary.

thnaks for the tip.