Rear diff' girdle (cover)

[joflewbyu2]

getting the SVO/Ford racing rear axle girdle and stud kit as extra assurance/durabuility reasons. it suppose to keep the rear axles from flexing against the caps during hard acceleration/shifts. has anyone else done this? the Ford owners manual states rear diff' fluid is filled for life - needing no replacement, almost sounds to good to be true. i am going to fill her with amsoil 75w-90 synthetic and add the fluid modifier for the limited slip. want some input/opinions if you all will, thanks!

[TAF]

Fordnut did it and posted a pic...here http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3036&highlight=girdle

[FordNut]

Make sure they use silicone sealant when they put it on. They just used the gasket when they put mine on and it developed a leak after it got hot. They re-did it and put on silicone without a gasket and the leak is gone. I believe it calls for 75-140 so I'm not sure about using the 75-90. The Motorcraft 75-140 is full synthetic.

[SergntMac]

Took my new Marauder in for the TSB on the axles, and added a few goodies. Auburn limited slip, Dana 60 stud kit, and the SVO axel girdle. Call it a preventive measure.

You guys who are going to supecharge, take a hard look at your power train. I know early reports say the bone stock MM is durable and can take the power, but you have to ask "for how long." We throw these words around like we're tossing a softball back and forth, but think about it. You're doubling the strain on the power train, pounding in almost twice the power, and if you're normal, you're going to do that twice as often.

My first ride in a superchaged MM left me speechless, and that's the truth. I've been pushing police cars up and down city street for 27 years. I've been in so many dangerous chases, I've come to hate them, and it took me about an hour to calm down, it's that awesome of a change.

Preventive measure #1, get them brakes from Dennis, or what ever brand you favor, just get them. Here we've been fighting to build power and launch a heavy car. Better consider stopping it too.

Preventive measure #2, inspect your drive train and be very critical, remember that your family rides in this car. The Stallion torque converter, Dynatech drive shaft, drive shaft loop, Auburn "posi", stud kit and girdle. A few hundred bucks now is good insurance that your MM will handle the power when you bolt that on....IMHO.

[ghost]

Interesting that this thread should come up today...I just had a new set of 4.11 GM gears and a Summit Racing rear-end girdle installed and got the car back just a few hours ago. It looks cool and it's functional! Time to update the sig now. ;)

Sarge, good advice and sounds like a good buildup too. :up: I had an Auburn HP posi installed new and it lasted only one year with my constant abuse. Did you get the HP or PRO? The Auburn PRO is stronger. I switched to an Eaton posi with carbon-fiber clutches and it feels much stronger with I lay rubber on the 1-2 shift & from a dead stop as well. Plus, it's rebuildable - the Auburn is not, just FYI.

Again, your advice is good. "Do it right, do it once."

Eric

[Ross]

OK, for me and whoever else is waiting for me to ask this question, here goes: What the heck does a rear end girdle do? I know what my grandmother's girdle did for her rear end, but believe me, we don't want to go there. Seriously, this is another new one to me. Thanks

[Dr Caleb]

Originally posted by Ross
OK, for me and whoever else is waiting for me to ask this question, here goes: What the heck does a rear end girdle do? I know what my grandmother's girdle did for her rear end, but believe me, we don't want to go there. Seriously, this is another new one to me. Thanks

I'd like to know too. About the first question.
The second, I think we need a new gremiln - Oooooooo *icky* *icky* :-)

And ghost, nice rear end....errrr ^w^w nice gear housing!

[TAF]

Originally posted by Ross
OK, for me and whoever else is waiting for me to ask this question, here goes: What the heck does a rear end girdle do? I know what my grandmother's girdle did for her rear end, but believe me, we don't want to go there. Seriously, this is another new one to me. Thanks

I'll let you get the "technical" answer from one of the smarter people here...from my understanding (from a layman's terms) it's similar to your grandmother's girdle...it "holds everything together if you make it bust at the seems". Go ahead and :flamer: if I'm too far off, guys.

[ghost]

Thanks guys, I really like the way it looks too! :)

But again, it is functional, and here's what it does:

If you look at the word "Summit," there are two bolts on either side. These bolts extend through the housing and they each have a cap on the end that presses directly on top of the main caps of the rear, helping to keep everything in place under a load. Plus the sheer strength of the entire cover helps the structural integrity of the housing too.

Make sense?

Eric

[ghost]

Here's a bad pic, but it shows exactly what I'm talking about.

Eric

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by ghost
Sarge, good advice and sounds like a good buildup too. I had an Auburn HP posi installed new and it lasted only one year with my constant abuse. Did you get the HP or PRO? The Auburn PRO is stronger. I switched to an Eaton posi with carbon-fiber clutches and it feels much stronger with I lay rubber on the 1-2 shift & from a dead stop as well. Plus, it's rebuildable - the Auburn is not, just FYI. Again, your advice is good. "Do it right, do it once." Eric

Eric, thanks for jumping in and explaining the girdle, I don't have any show and tell pics, and that does help.

Couldn't get into the Auburn Pro without moving up to 31 spline axles, and no time to order custom axles right now. Since the TSB was buying my labor, I opted to upgrade what I could at the time. I'll pull it all down in 1000 miles and see what's changed. I'm a firm believer in regular maintenence and peeking at the differential every 10K has saved me mucho bucks over the years.

The OEM posi was showing wear, I didn't like the play in the spyders, way too loose IMHO, so, the Auburn HP 28 spline was an easy choice at 339 bucks. Surely stronger than the OEM, but I'll watch it closely. BTW, Auburns are rebuildable, but only by Auburn. You can send yours in for a rebuild, or, buy a new one and get refund on the core. I think it runs 85-100 bucks.

What's your opinion of rear end coolers, Eric? Worth the expense?

[ghost]

Originally posted by SergntMac


{edit}

The OEM posi was showing wear, I didn't like the play in the spyders, way too loose IMHO, so, the Auburn HP 28 spline was an easy choice at 339 bucks. Surely stronger than the OEM, but I'll watch it closely. BTW, Auburns are rebuildable, but only by Auburn. You can send yours in for a rebuild, or, buy a new one and get refund on the core. I think it runs 85-100 bucks.

What's your opinion of rear end coolers, Eric? Worth the expense?

I found that pic of the open rear on the Web, it was a perfect donor for the explanation, thanks.

I didn't know that about Auburn being able to rebuild their own LSD's. I learned something new today, I'll have to remember that little tidbit. :up:

About the rear-end cooler, I don't think they're necessary unless you are a hardcore drag racer or you do a lot of towing. For a daily driver with occasional track time, it's really not needed, IMHO. The rear end girdles typically increase fluid capacity an extra half to full quart, and that will help keep temps under control too.

Now a trans cooler is a different story....get one if you don't have one already. Not sure if MM's come with those from the factory. An engine oil cooler is also a good additon. I know you already know these things, I'm just passing this on for the benefit of the new performance enthusiasts here. ;)

Eric

[CRUZTAKER]

I ordered one with my gears from summit and cancelled at the last minute thinking it might draw attention to the gear mod.

I'm a wimp....I really wanted it too.

[ghost]

Originally posted by CRUZTAKER
I ordered one with my gears from summit and cancelled at the last minute thinking it might draw attention to the gear mod.

I'm a wimp....I really wanted it too.

AHHH! CANCELED A SUMMIT RACING ORDER?!?!!! BLASPHEME!!

I'll pretend I didn't just read this admission. The only way you could have done worse is if your wife nagged you to cancel it.

As your attorney I suggest you reorder immediately. I'll put out a restraining order on the forthcoming lynch mob. Better get FedEx Next Day Air.

:D

Eric

[TAF]

I was ready to do this but was warned that the majority of them develop leaks. Brian, I know you had a post earlier in this thread that yours did leak.

Any reports from those of you that have had these on for some time now?

Thanks

[SergntMac]

Weekend road trip, 800 some miles averaging 90 MPH, everything is cool TAF

[TAF]

Thanks Mac...

My guy (who I DO trust BTW) says...

"I'll do it for ya...but, I've done 100s of them-especially when I was at Steeda- and most ALL of them leak at some point no matter how well you torque them".

So...I'm just "fishing" from the pond of those of you that have done it...

[FordNut]

Mine did leak, but it was originally installed with the gasket and no silicone. After sealing with silicone, no more problems.

[BillyGman]

that a girdle increases the fluid capacity? is the cover itself bowed out more than the stock cover? i don't see any other way that this set up would increase the fluid capacity. As far as rear end coolers, i doubt very much that they're used for drag racing since drag racing rarely creates additional heat due to the short duration of the race. if anything, they must use them in circle track racing. I'm sure that rear ends in circle track cars get much hotter since those races can last hours.

[ghost]

Originally posted by BillyGman
that a girdle increases the fluid capacity? is the cover itself bowed out more than the stock cover? i don't see any other way that this set up would increase the fluid capacity. As far as rear end coolers, i doubt very much that they're used for drag racing since drag racing rarely creates additional heat due to the short duration of the race. if anything, they must use them in circle track racing. I'm sure that rear ends in circle track cars get much hotter since those races can last hours.

The design of the cover allows for extra fluid, you are correct.

And it's not just the duration of the race but the force applied to the gears. Rub anything harder and the time required to generate high temps is drastically reduced.

[rct]

Very nice thread, good stuff folks. Thanks!