sudden extreme vibration from rear end

[kartherma]

Hello all.

out here in Guam having fun golfing this morning. On the way to lunch afterwards I was making a right hand turn and got a sudden extreme and violent vibration from the rear end.

I pulled over immediately and checked what I could from underneath while in the parking lot. Everything seemed to be in order (brakes, etc). I just had it on the lift yesterday for an oil change and inspected the entire undercarriage and didnt notice anything that stood out.

I had it towed to the dealer who will probably look at it on monday...if I am lucky.

In the process of preparing my mind to check up on what these guys come up with (remember this is Guam where the techs get certificates for being able to answer phones...YES, they have them posted on the wall!!!)

One thing I did notice is when I took it over a bump the noise paused for a split second and came right back.

To describe the noise: loud, violent, extreme "card in the spokes" type noise that can not only be heard but felt though the pedals and floor board. This was so loud that my buddy in the car 50 feet in front of me heard it with the windows up and A/C blowing. Had him stand next to it when I put it in gear and rolled several feet forwards and confirmed it is from rear end. Noise happens at a frequency proportional to speed of wheel roll and is pretty much the same forwards and backwards.

Thoughts? I am leaning towards differential issues because the brief pause in the noise when I hit the bump.

Be good guys!
Thanks!
Curt

[sd8683]

I bet its your E-brake shoe's, have you used your E-brake recently?

[RoyLPita]

I had an out of adjustment e brake cable and the actuator would hit the studs on the back of the axle shaft. See if that is a cause.

[kartherma]

that is one of the best problem descriptions to match the sound that I am getting. It sounds just like there is something hitting the backs of the studs...THANKS!!!!

[kartherma]

OK,
I dont think I am really all that surprised here...

The bolt that holds the watts link to the differential snapped off allowing the watts link to fall down far enough to contact the universal joint/flange that penetrates into the differential.
That explains the sudden noise/vibration and why the noise stopped completely for a second when the car hit a bump.

Now for the real questions.
These guys tell me they want a day and a half to fix it. They claim that in order to get the broken bolt out they will need to drop the rear end completely. I am not totally sure about
1. the need to drop the rear end completely out
2. that it would take 12-16 hours of labor to do it
3. that I should trust these guys at all...even if I were able to be present when they do the work
4. the condition of the watts link right now (haven't been able to get over there yet...stupid work!!!)
5. Should I get new bushings for the watts link
6. should I get a new watts link (this one is a metco)
7. should I attempt this at home with some jack stands and a bottle jack?

Have any of you put a watts link in yourself in your driveway? If so, do you think I would be able to get at the broken bolt myself from under the car while on jackstands?

I have access to a press to do the bushings if I need to replace those.

ugh. gotta love guam. I was not attempting humor when I said they proudly display there phone customer service school certificates.

be good!
Curt

[MM2004]

Read here -> http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20238&highlight=watts+link+install

Shoot a PM to RoyLPita (Brian) and ask him about the install.

Keep us posted?

Mike.

[RoyLPita]

Do you have pics of the damage?

[kartherma]

Hi all,
I have not yet had the opportunity to get over to Ford to take pictures. Work went late last night and I have duty tomorrow. With the work I need to get done today I doubt I can get over there until thursday to take a look at it myself.

I think I can get access to a shop that has a lift, but it is the kind that lifts with the arms that swivel under the car and you align with the frame. I am thinking that the shop will have the tools I need except for the bolt extraction stuff. Good thing I have an entire division of machinists who work a few yards down the passage way from me. Getting a broken-bolt-extraction-expert will be very easy.

I'll keep you posted, but since I am leaving to go back to the states to be with the China Doll and family I will probably not really be doing much on this until January.

thanks!
Be good!
Curt

[Merc220A]

My biggest question is how did you get a Marauder over in Guam??

[kartherma]

The Navy sent me over on PCS orders. When they do that, one of the things they do is ship one privately owned vehicle. It got cleaned up, inspected, loaded onto a ship and sailed over here...

[jayken302]

Dude, it should not take 1.5 days to remove a rear end! I used to pull them out of my Bronco in under an hour. Are the marauders independent rear suspension? I thought they were the same as the CV.

[kartherma]

Ah yes, the joys of living in guam.

experiences so far?

45 minutes to buy two fan belts...I was the only customer in the store and had the belts in my hand in under 6 minutes. Here, you just get to wait for the clerks to finish gossiping with their family on the phone about the barbeque dinner they had last night.

more than 12 bucks a quart for royal purple.

buddy called ahead to ask if they had the spark plugs in stock before he went. He specified 8 cylinder engine. Gets there to find they only have 4...gets told "you can chang one side, no?"

sailor who works for me got a check engine light and was scared. took it in and was told he had blown his head gaskets. I screwed in his gas cap and cleared the check engine.

guy I work with had a "knock" when he turned right. Was told he had broken engine mounts. He and I agreed "bs" but for whatever reason he let them change the mounts. (crazy dude if you ask me). Of course this did not fix it. He and I replaced the CV joints...no more knock.

I cannot even begin to describe how nervous I am about this whole thing. I simply need to get to a do it yourself shop and do this...myself.

be good!
Curt

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

It doesn't sound like you need a shop for this.... A driveway and some jackstands should do it. I changed ring and pinion on this car on my back in an apartment complex parking garage