What are ways to be SURE you need axles

[SlkMerc]

I would like to hear from the early 300A guys what they did to determine their axles were bad. Without taking it apart, what is the procedure? I read a thread that not ALL were bad during the early production run, just a batch.
I hear something out back while driving, could be those bearings, could be road noise, tires, yadda yadda.

I await!


Don

[Marauderjack]

Don,

You may hear a "Wump....Wump....Wump" sound while driving and it changes frequency with speed!!:eek: Sounds like tires with flat spots on them.:mad:

Also, pull the magnetic fill plug and look for shiney metal particles on it (pieces of the axles)......blackish graphite looking debris is normal??:confused:

Jack the rear up......If they are really bad you can feel "slop" in the outboard axle bearings when moving the wheel up and down!!:cool:

Finally you may see some seal leakage from excessive bearing/axle wear!!:(

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack:burnout:

[TheDonk]

Here's how I found my axle problem - doing my brake upgrade.
Rear on jackstands, wheels and calipers off, in neutral,
rotate axle by hand. God awful noise !!!
Buttoned everything back up (couldn't get the rear rotors off anyway)
and off to the dealer for official confirmation.
Dealer confirmed, 24000 miles and just out of warranty by less than a month.
Fixed under warranty assist - my cost $93.00.
I was very lucky. BTW did the brake upgrade later, much easier since the tech
had done the hard work of breaking the rotors loose for me.

[Zack]

Here's how I found my axle problem - doing my brake upgrade.
Rear on jackstands, wheels and calipers off, in neutral,
rotate axle by hand. God awful noise !!!
Buttoned everything back up (couldn't get the rear rotors off anyway)
and off to the dealer for official confirmation.
Dealer confirmed, 24000 miles and just out of warranty by less than a month.
Fixed under warranty assist - my cost $93.00.
I was very lucky. BTW did the brake upgrade later, much easier since the tech
had done the hard work of breaking the rotors loose for me.

there is a TSB on the axle problem: 03-05-05

It shouldnt cost you a penny. Get that $$$ back.

[TheDonk]

My understanding:
TSB does not equate to Warranty (free) repairs when warranty has passed.
And considering the cost of the kit alone, I was more than happy w/
the warranty share deal from the dealer - cheaper than ESP w/
$100 deductible.

[omarauder]

How does one find out if the TSB ever was done? Is it noted somewhere? Just bought a used '03 MM.

[wm1964]

Get an oasis report, that will tell you everything that has been done at the dealership. If it was done elsewhere you are SOL.

[JonW]

Is this only a concern on the 300As?

[RCSignals]

It seems to be a concern fro pretty much every '03 300A, and some of the 300Bs

I can't remember reading about an '04 having the axles go, but I may have just missed it.

[chader]

Tsb Stands For Technical Service Buliten,not Fix For Free...tsb Are Information To Assist In The Repair,so The Person Doing The Repair Does Not Waste As Much Time Serching,using Poor Parts That Have Been Updated,just Like What Guys Do On This Site...ask Foir A Common Problem Or Repair Solution.

[RF Overlord]

How does one find out if the TSB ever was done? Is it noted somewhere? Welcome to the collective!

One way is to look for a metal tag under one of the diff cover bolts that says "75W-140 Synthetic only" or words very close to that.

The factory-fill fluid is a conventional 80W-90, but the axle TSB kit comes with 75W-140 synth and the tag to install upon completion.

You can also look for the build date, on the Vehicle Certification label on the driver's door. If it's after January of 2003, then your car wasn't part of the TSB and wouldn't have the bad axles in the first place.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The dealer that did my axles did not install a 75-140 tag. Also if its a 300A, it likely has the axle problem. Got to remove the axles to tell, it will be very obvious wear on the shaft.

[omarauder]

Welcome to the collective!

One way is to look for a metal tag under one of the diff cover bolts that says "75W-140 Synthetic only" or words very close to that.

Thanks. I'll have a look for that tag. The build date is 10/2002.
regards.

[Drewstang]

What spline number is the 300A axles?

[SamF]

What spline number is the 300A axles?

28 spline...

[warren]

Slkmerc,
I took my 03MM to the local Ford dealer that works on
police CV's. and mentioned the TSB - they knew all about it. I heard an ever so slight moaning at 30MPH from the rear.
They put a listening device on it and ordered a kit right away to fix it.

Warren