Rear end parts no longer available from Ford

[Drewstang]

My Marauder started leaking gear oil a few weeks back and I was finally able to work on it one week ago today. I knew from the Oasis that my car did not have the TSB performed for the axles, so I knew what to expect.

I popped the cover off the diff and went to work pulling the axles and found both scored from the wheel bearing. I replaced both side bearings and seals and bought new axles.

I ordered a Track Lock rebuild kit a few weeks ago knowing I would have the diff apart to take the axles out. As I shot the diff carrier with brake cleaner I was very surprised by what I saw. All the idler spider gears had broken and chipped teeth, and the drive spider gears were damaged as well. I pulled the diff and started to tear it down for a rebuild.

My first thought was to use Mustang spider gears since I had some available. While they would fit in the carrier, there was too much slop in the gears even after using all the shims in the kit. I took a closer look at the old gears to find the drive gears in our cars have 14 teeth while the Mustangs have 17. The idler gears have the same number of teeth, but the MM has thicker teeth with a different angle.

No big deal, I'll call the dealer and buy new parts. Made a call to the local dealer only to find there are no serviced parts in the carrier assembly. They do offer the assembly for $338, only to find the assembly has been discontinued.

A local salvage yard has a MM and a local member is willing to go in on the rear end, but I'm not going to have the funds to do that at this time. My only other option is a Warranty I bought when I purchased the car. I have a local shop I trust to contact the warranty company with common sense and not blame the super charger for the rear end failure. I plan to return the axles I purchased, and use the funds for the deductable.

If anyone can offer assistance in searching for part numbers or a different solution, please let me know. Also, can someone with a Ford Parts connection verify the availibility of the parts.

[Blk Mamba]

Why don't you go to 31 spline axles?

[W4LTD]

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/mechanical/FVP080.gif

Did you try Tasca? Click the link below...

http://www.tascafordparts.com/

[Blackmobile]

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/mechanical/FVP080.gif



You wouldn't happen to have the table of contents for that break down?

[Dennis Reinhart]

My Marauder started leaking gear oil a few weeks back and I was finally able to work on it one week ago today. I knew from the Oasis that my car did not have the TSB performed for the axles, so I knew what to expect.

I popped the cover off the diff and went to work pulling the axles and found both scored from the wheel bearing. I replaced both side bearings and seals and bought new axles.

I ordered a Track Lock rebuild kit a few weeks ago knowing I would have the diff apart to take the axles out. As I shot the diff carrier with brake cleaner I was very surprised by what I saw. All the idler spider gears had broken and chipped teeth, and the drive spider gears were damaged as well. I pulled the diff and started to tear it down for a rebuild.

My first thought was to use Mustang spider gears since I had some available. While they would fit in the carrier, there was too much slop in the gears even after using all the shims in the kit. I took a closer look at the old gears to find the drive gears in our cars have 14 teeth while the Mustangs have 17. The idler gears have the same number of teeth, but the MM has thicker teeth with a different angle.

No big deal, I'll call the dealer and buy new parts. Made a call to the local dealer only to find there are no serviced parts in the carrier assembly. They do offer the assembly for $338, only to find the assembly has been discontinued.

A local salvage yard has a MM and a local member is willing to go in on the rear end, but I'm not going to have the funds to do that at this time. My only other option is a Warranty I bought when I purchased the car. I have a local shop I trust to contact the warranty company with common sense and not blame the super charger for the rear end failure. I plan to return the axles I purchased, and use the funds for the deductable.

If anyone can offer assistance in searching for part numbers or a different solution, please let me know. Also, can someone with a Ford Parts connection verify the availibility of the parts.


I have the Ford part number and the parts laying on my desk, but by the time you buy the clutches and the spider gear kit you can buy the whole carier for a little bit more.

[W4LTD]

1) AXLE SHAFTS 2) AXLE SEALS 3) AXLE BEARINGS
4) AXLE HOUSING 5) PINION SEAL 6) FRONT PINION BEARING
7) PINION SPACER 8) BEARING CUP 9) REAR PINION BEARING CUP
10) REAR PINION BEARING 11) RING and PINION 12) SIDE BEARING CUP
13) SIDE BEARINGS 14) DIFFERENTIAL CASE 15) SIDE GEAR WASHER
16) SIDE GEAR 17) PINION GEAR 18) PINION WASHER
19) PINION SHAFT 20) LOCK PIN 21) CLIP
22) COVER GASKET

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/mechanical/FVP080.gif

[Blackmobile]

Thanks much, I was trying to locate the clutch pack. I'll be tearing mine down for reinstall into a CV rear. I still don't see them though.


Ed

[W4LTD]

Thanks much, I was trying to locate the clutch pack. I'll be tearing mine down for reinstall into a CV rear. I still don't see them though.


Ed

This?

Clutch kit, all models - integral carrier - INTEGRAL CARRIER 90-07 $179.17 $118.25

www.tascafordparts.com

[Blackmobile]

Yeah, I saw that, I just wanted to know where they are located in the breakdown.

[babbage]

What about a Torsen T2R?

[Drewstang]

The clutch kit is only $50 online, with the Friction Moddifier. And its a Ford Racing kit.

31 spline axles are not an option due to cost right now.

I will try Tasca about the spider gears and see what they say.

A Torsen diff is also not an option due to cost.

EDIT- Just called Tasca and got the same results. Carrier not available any more, no serviceable parts, no one has the carrier in stock.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

You can just buy a used 8.8 carrier from anything on ebay and use it. I used a late 80s/early 90s Mustang 8.8 carrier in my MM and it's fine. The spider gears are manufactured totally differently (milled vs some other method of profiling the teeth on the newer carriers) but that doesn't matter, you can exchange one generation whole carrier with another of another generation and it will work fine. I paid $100 for the complete older gen carrier and did not even change the clutches because they looked great and the breakaway torque was actually higher than my 28k mile original at the time.

Ebay

[ctrlraven]

Summit racing, Cobra clutch pak.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=FMS-M-4700-C&N=700+4294925134+400070+115&autoview=sku

[Drewstang]

You can just buy a used 8.8 carrier from anything on ebay and use it. I used a late 80s/early 90s Mustang 8.8 carrier in my MM and it's fine. The spider gears are manufactured totally differently (milled vs some other method of profiling the teeth on the newer carriers) but that doesn't matter, you can exchange one generation whole carrier with another of another generation and it will work fine. I paid $100 for the complete older gen carrier and did not even change the clutches because they looked great and the breakaway torque was actually higher than my 28k mile original at the time.

Ebay
The carrier from any 8.8 will work, but the Marauder has a beefier carrier that is designed for the extra vehicle weight. With my car being supercharged, I need the extra strength. I can slap a carrier in from a 99 GT Mustang, but I'd rather find the right one for the car.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The Marauder's carrier appeared capable of taking more clutches but from the factory it has a bunch of spacers stacked, and the same number of clutches that the Mustang carrier had

So I don't think stock for stock it's going to be any stronger.

[Drewstang]

The Marauder's carrier appeared capable of taking more clutches but from the factory it has a bunch of spacers stacked, and the same number of clutches that the Mustang carrier had

So I don't think stock for stock it's going to be any stronger.
Unless someone changed mine when the gears were swapped, it had the exact same spacers and clutches as any other 8.8 I've rebuilt.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I can take a pic to illustrate what I'm talking about but its of no consequence. Hard to explain. My stock MM carrier had of course alternating steels and frictions, but on one end it had a bunch of steel on steel acting what appeared to be as spacers. The mustang 8.8 carrier had the same number of alternating frictions and steels but did not have the extra stacked steels on one end. Thats the best I can describe it without taking a picture. The other thing I did see was that the MM carrier bears against the whole rounded end of each clutch tab, whereas the mustang carrier only bears on the flat sides of each tab. I could see that notching the tabs over time.

I should sell you my stock carrier. The whole reason I swapped it out was general insanity on my part. I am embarrassed to say why but suffice it to say there was nothing wrong with my original.

[Drewstang]

I can take a pic to illustrate what I'm talking about but its of no consequence. Hard to explain. My stock MM carrier had of course alternating steels and frictions, but on one end it had a bunch of steel on steel acting what appeared to be as spacers. The mustang 8.8 carrier had the same number of alternating frictions and steels but did not have the extra stacked steels on one end. Thats the best I can describe it without taking a picture. The other thing I did see was that the MM carrier bears against the whole rounded end of each clutch tab, whereas the mustang carrier only bears on the flat sides of each tab. I could see that notching the tabs over time.

I should sell you my stock carrier. The whole reason I swapped it out was general insanity on my part. I am embarrassed to say why but suffice it to say there was nothing wrong with my original.
I understand what you mean about the thicker steels. My car had normal sized steels, maybe thats what lead to the spider gear wear.

I will keep that in mind if the warranty company will not cover the rear end.

[Dobs]

The MM is not supposed to use the same diff as the police Crown Vic? With the tons of police CV on the road, should be easy to find those parts.

[imorb1994]

The MM is not supposed to use the same diff as the police Crown Vic? With the tons of police CV on the road, should be easy to find those parts.
Is that a question or statement?

[460mudsports]

What about using a carrier out of a pickup? Very few F-150's weigh less than a MM, especially a longbed extended cab 4x4 and I have only heard of a very few carriers breaking and they were 200k+ worn out. Ford started using the 8.8 in F-150's in the mid 1980's and lots of them had trac-locs from the factory as well. An H9 axle code is a factory 3.55 gear with trac-loc.

[Drewstang]

Just an update for those interested.


My car is in the shop, and it appears the warranty company wanted to use salvage parts. The shop disagreed and said they could not get the parts from any local suppliers. It looks as though I will be getting an Eaton unit and new axles covered under the warranty. I will post more tomorrow after I visit the shop.

[justbob]

I wish you all the luck Drew, Dom has had horrible luck with the Eaton, Cluncking sounds immediately after install. Pm Him when you get a chance, I believe he's been through a couple Eatons now.

I'm sure others have had good luck though.

[Zack]

Eaton rear ends are excellent.
Dominick took his car to a **** shop for the install.

[Drewstang]

The shop called a little while ago. The warranty company is covering everything. They were able to find the rear carrier assembly, somehow, that I tried for hours to locate. The car should be done in the next day or so, as they are just waiting to find out where the assembly is and how soon they can get it shipped. I asked about paying extra for the Eaton, the warranty company wants pictures taken before the cover is put back in place so that is out of the question. I'm running 3 bottles of Royal Purple gear oil down to them.

[Vortech347]

I'm with Raven just order an 03 cobra dif. Better clutches and they can handle a metric-****-ton of power.

[MENINBLK]

Isn't Ford supposed to supply parts for our cars for 10 years ???

[Vortech347]

Nope, thats an automotive myth.

[Drewstang]

I'm with Raven just order an 03 cobra dif. Better clutches and they can handle a metric-****-ton of power.
That would work if I had 31 spline alxes. The 03-04 Cobras had 31 splines on the axles, I don't have the funds or the time for an axle upgrade right now.

[bigmerc'03]

man do what i did an Eaton and 31 spline axles and now i have twin streaks instead of single ones got the eaton for 394 dollars shipped from this site rearendparts.com i just went there and the price has change a lil but thats still cheap for a reliable part

[Vortech347]

I thought the MM's were 31's?

[imorb1994]

I thought the MM's were 31's?
Nope 28 spline.

[Drewstang]

Car should be coming home tomorrow. I can't wait.

[GreekGod]

2R3Z-4026-AA is the Ford # for a loaded 31 spline Trac-Loc carrier (Tasca says $262 list, $173 net). I ordered from my local Ford dealer for $223.

Probably the same thing as the Ford Racing M-4204-F318C ($260 @ Summit), except regular clutches, not carbon fiber.

____________________________

[JimmyXR7]

Isn't Ford supposed to supply parts for our cars for 10 years ???

No myth. Laws change. Example At one time new cars had no crash standards. Then a 5 MPH bummper standard with no damage. Then it went to 2 MPH. Now it is ?

Jim