SamF
11-26-2006, 04:13 PM
If not you may find this!! :shake: This gear set was installed prior to me owning it. I did have the gear backlash/runout, etc checked when we installed the girdle and studs but we didnt think to check the torque on the ring gear bolts. 3 were in the bottom of the rear, all of the remaining bolts in the ring were loose...they don't look like they have any locktite on them either...I had noticed a little excess noise when I picked it up from the body shop but I couldnt put my finger on it, it seemed to come and go, probably the bolts moving around the housing...
Today while out running her hard I heard a loud TINK after a pretty violent 1-2 shift at WOT...I thought the car ahead dropped a bolt and it hit me. When I parked about 10 miles later there was gear oil all over the back of the car. I drained what was left (not much), tightened the remaining bolts and put the stock cover back on. It sounds fine but it's gonna get a once over and new ring bolts this week at the shop. I think the girdle went a long way to prevent further damage...a steel one wouldnt have helped keep the bearing caps square with a "loose" ring gear and may not have fractured, allowing more bolts to fall out before I realized what was going on and killing the rear. :eek:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/5/0/IMG_3080.jpg
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/5/0/IMG_3081.jpg
Today while out running her hard I heard a loud TINK after a pretty violent 1-2 shift at WOT...I thought the car ahead dropped a bolt and it hit me. When I parked about 10 miles later there was gear oil all over the back of the car. I drained what was left (not much), tightened the remaining bolts and put the stock cover back on. It sounds fine but it's gonna get a once over and new ring bolts this week at the shop. I think the girdle went a long way to prevent further damage...a steel one wouldnt have helped keep the bearing caps square with a "loose" ring gear and may not have fractured, allowing more bolts to fall out before I realized what was going on and killing the rear. :eek:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/5/0/IMG_3080.jpg
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/5/0/IMG_3081.jpg