Carrier for 4:10 swap

[chefcaleb]

Ok I need a little guidance. I've asked some people privately but thought I'd open this up publicly to get the most opinions. I am looking to do the magical 4.10 swap. The shop who I am looking at has experience with mustangs and especially rear end work. So, they quoted me two prices. One was much higher than the other. That was because he said it was due to whether I needed a new carrier or not for the new gears. Or if the 4.10s will fit in the current gears.

So I didn't know. Does anyone on here know the answer? The marauder has 80k miles on it. Is tuned by martyo. And will be adjusted of course. I've followed other posts on what fluids to use but feel free to post again. Again, this garage knows mustangs very well. He knows of the marauder and even knew it originally was supposed to have 4.10s. He has never worked on one. But is excited to do so. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Just bear in mind, I'm no car buff. Chef, musician, audiophile, coin collector, yes.... Car aficionado, no. So technical terms will whiz by my head. I love speed and cars but these things are hard for me to understand... I'm learning though so that has to count!

[RubberCtyRauder]

you dont need a new carrier for 4.10's if keeping same axles. if you change to 31 spline axles then ou need a 31 spline carrier

[fastblackmerc]

you dont need a new carrier for 4.10's if keeping same axles. if you change to 31 spline axles then ou need a 31 spline carrier

Well...... Not actually. All you need are 31 spline spider gears and 31 spline cross pin.

OP, unless your rear is completely toast The original carrier will be OK.

[chefcaleb]

Great, thanks guys that helps so much. This does lead me to ask... and remember I'm not familiar with these terms, what type of spline axles are oem to the car and what is the advantage to going to 31 spline? Does this raise the rear end or is this more conducive to 4.10 gears? Thanks guys.

[Logizyme]

The axle shafts, which are the metal shaft which connects the wheels to the differential have splines which slide into the differential. The factory Marauder axle shafts are 28-spline count, these are generally good to 400-550 wheel HP depending on application. The 06+(or late 05+) Crown Victoria's and the rest of the panther platform got upgraded to 31-spline axles, which are capable of supporting much more power.


Any differential that fits in the 8.8 Ford solid housing we have will accept the 8.8 4.10 gearset. The differential assembly must have the matching spline count to allow the axles to slide in and transfer power. So should you desire to upgrade to the 31-spine axles you would need to replace or modify your differential assembly to accept them. Typically you would just replace the entire differential assembly but as others have noted, you could just swap the components within the differential that are specific to the 31-spine.

[RubberCtyRauder]

car has 28 spline, which are fine for stock and mild horsepower increases. 31 spline are larger in dia. an stronger. power adders, burnouts etc. often switch to 31 spline, imo, not worth the cost for average driving

[chefcaleb]

Thanks guys that was very helpful. As I only have the tune and would be adding the 4.10 gears, not sure I would have the hp to justify the need for the 31 spline. I use the Marauder as my daily driver for a short commute and some highway driving. I guess if I ever wanted to get even more serious about adding power, then the spline would need to be upgraded.

[Comin' in Hot]

It all depends what he finds one he opens it up. There's a good chance 80,000 miles you will have worn or broken spider gears. And my cars tend to destroy them.

[justbob]

Throw gears in and be done.


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[sailsmen]

If he said you needed a new carrier to work with the 4.10's then he just offered to serve you raw chicken with your sushi.

[WPG_Merc]

Get a a trac locker 28 or 31 spline from American Muscle & the MM will be happy. :burnout:

[chefcaleb]

If he said you needed a new carrier to work with the 4.10's then he just offered to serve you raw chicken with your sushi.

No, he never said that. He said it depends on whether I needed a new carrier or not which is why he gave two prices. He was hoping I didn't as was I. He of course was going to take a look at it first but I said I'd check on here before I did anything.

[sailsmen]

If he thinks you may need a new carrier there is more to the story. Good Luck.

[MyBlackBeasts]

Ok I need a little guidance. I've asked some people privately but thought I'd open this up publicly to get the most opinions. I am looking to do the magical 4.10 swap. The shop who I am looking at has experience with mustangs and especially rear end work. So, they quoted me two prices. One was much higher than the other. That was because he said it was due to whether I needed a new carrier or not for the new gears. Or if the 4.10s will fit in the current gears.

So I didn't know. Does anyone on here know the answer? The marauder has 80k miles on it. Is tuned by martyo. And will be adjusted of course. I've followed other posts on what fluids to use but feel free to post again. Again, this garage knows mustangs very well. He knows of the marauder and even knew it originally was supposed to have 4.10s. He has never worked on one. But is excited to do so. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Just bear in mind, I'm no car buff. Chef, musician, audiophile, coin collector, yes.... Car aficionado, no. So technical terms will whiz by my head. I love speed and cars but these things are hard for me to understand... I'm learning though so that has to count!

Good that you are being cautious and checking around.

The fact that he didn't know if the 4.10s required a different carrier raises red flags for me. Sounds like not much experience working on Ford 8.8's.

Be careful, dig deeper and don't become one of the predator shop victims we see so often.

Good luck!

PS: You'll love the 4.10s! https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=79929

[justbob]

Aren't 28 spline Ford carriers discontinued anyways? You would be looking at an aftermarket unit or a 31 spline unit and new axles if so.

It doesn't sound like your hard on your car. And at only 80,000 miles I'm sure your clutches are fine considering I average 40,000 intervals on mine the way I drive.. The only other wearable is the spider gears and don't let a bunch of chipped teeth bother you as that's normal in almost every carrier I've had open, even low mileage grandma driven Fords. They're still quiet as can be and operate fine. Seems like it's just the way they wear on most.

If your not experiencing any issues and still leaving two marks then keep it simple. Some on here will preach "replace it all". I see no need whatsoever to replace stuff that is perfectly still good with plenty of life whether on a budget or not.


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[chefcaleb]

Hey I really appreciate everyone's input. It really helps. I'm the type of person to not automatically assume the worst in someone. I don't think this person is taking me for a ride. I think he is like some people who believe it may be best to replace everything just incase. If he wanted to take advantage of me, I would think that he wouldn't have given me two different prices, two that were completely different from each other, one being half the price than the other. He would have just told me the highest price and been done with it. But instead he gave me the option, which i believe to be rather honest of him. Anyway, he works a lot with mustangs both 5.0 and 4.6. He said he has done a lot of crown vics just not specifically Marauders. Anyway... Thanks everyone, I will tell him about the carrier spider bit though. Thanks.

[Gryphonzus]

If you car is a 2003 I would have him change the axles and replace the bearings. The 2003's are bad for locking up. Mine got so bad the passenger side wheel sheared off the axle. When they rolled it off the flatbed the wheel came off. Have it looked over.

[chefcaleb]

Yikes, that sounds bad. Mine is a 2004, but I will have him look it over really well. This was a car I inherited from my father in law. No one in my wife's family wanted it. Can you guys believe it!? I'm glad I knew it was a gem. So it was free, which was an added bonus. My father in law never really drove it, which accounts for the low mileage. He did wreck it at one point, which is sad. I do believe the rear axle is new, as a matter of fact and was done by the local Mercury/Ford dealership. So perhaps that is an added bonus? Or not?