Got 2 new Axles - 35% stronger

[babbage]

How bad is this - I have Ford ESP but would rather not wait for the axles to die to replace them. I now have 58K on my odometer. Here is what I bought:Dorman Part number: 630-214 (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?catalog=42&partnum=630214&a=FR42-630214)


Got them from Rock Auto for $111.00 each. They come with new seals, bearings and lugs. Direct replacement. Dorman uses rolled spline instead of cut spline which are 35% stronger than factory. These are the 28 spline variety.

Now I just need more gear oil...

Is there a contest to see who can spend the most in one month on their MM (sans blower) I think I'm in the running.

Anyway just wanted to share the knowledge. I don't have a press for the lugs or bearings so I'm prolly going to take it to my guy.

Wish me luck...

[-Matt-]

I got you beat so far.... but i didnt get them axles... i got true ford product.

[justbob]

The only thing you need a press for is the abs ring. Rent a free tool for the bearing/seal (no biggie there) Lug studs walk right in with an open lug nut and a gun.

[babbage]

The only thing you need a press for is the abs ring. Rent a free tool for the bearing/seal (no biggie there) Lug studs walk right in with an open lug nut and a gun.

I think the ABS ring is already on the axle. I don't have a gun. (not that kind anyway) Ok so is that what the 5 lug nuts are for? e.g. use them to seat the lugs in place?

http://info.rockauto.com/RB/630-214-007.jpg

[babbage]

I got you beat so far.... but i didnt get them axles... i got true ford product.

What did you get? 31 spliners? I didn't want to change my carrier etc.

[ImpalaSlayer]

ive never seen the splines strip, the axle always snaps

[-Matt-]

What did you get? 31 spliners? I didn't want to change my carrier etc.


Some stuff is in the works yes ;)

[babbage]

ive never seen the splines strip, the axle always snaps

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=809694&postcount=16


axles
I have broken 3 28 spline axles in my Mustang with a stroked 5.0 Finally put 31 spline axles in with no problems since. The reason 28 spline axles break is where the splines are gets smaller unlike the 31 spline axles that are the same size end to end. They always break at the splines. So the answer is. 31 spline axles are bigger at the splines then 28 spline axles are.

ed
I've seen this elsewhere too on this site that they do usually fail at the splines. I have seen others break in the middle but the dorman axles in the middle are the same thickness as the 31 spline Ford ones. For me they are great product at a great price and a lot stronger than Ford 28 spliners. Plus I get new bearings, new seals and won't have to worry about axles again. :burnout:

Did you upgrade yours yet?

[Mike]

The only thing you need a press for is the abs ring. Rent a free tool for the bearing/seal (no biggie there) Lug studs walk right in with an open lug nut and a gun.

How does one go about "renting" a free tool :confused: :D

[Spectragod]

Is there a contest to see who can spend the most in one month on their MM (sans blower) I think I'm in the running.



20 months = 20K or so, glad I don't have to pay for labor.

[ImpalaSlayer]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=809694&postcount=16
I've seen this elsewhere too on this site that they do usually fail at the splines. I have seen others break in the middle but the dorman axles in the middle are the same thickness as the 31 spline Ford ones. For me they are great product at a great price and a lot stronger than Ford 28 spliners. Plus I get new bearings, new seals and won't have to worry about axles again. :burnout:

Did you upgrade yours yet?


you just said exactly what i said. they BREAK not strip which makes the "stronger" splines no better then the stock ones. have you compared 28s- 31s? the factory 28s are the same thickness in the middle as the 31s as well, its where they taper down that they break. not saying the dormans arnt better, but why not just go to the 31s and be done with it.

[Zack]

IMHO you didnt upgrade your axles.
..just my opinion, not intended to flame you.

[Glenn]

No flame here - but you could never break your OEM axles with a 3.73 unless you plan on upgrading to a SC.

Glenn :argue:

[babbage]

you just said exactly what i said. they BREAK not strip which makes the "stronger" splines no better then the stock ones. have you compared 28s- 31s? the factory 28s are the same thickness in the middle as the 31s as well, its where they taper down that they break. not saying the dormans arnt better, but why not just go to the 31s and be done with it.

When you cut something you are actually tearing it very finely. Cutting the splines causes the crystal structure of the material to have very small tears in it that can be made bigger under stress. Rolling the splines compresses the material and does not tear it just slightly reorganizes the crystal structure. It's because cutting the splines removes the material, rolling the splines takes a LOT of force and mashes them into shape - like a forging. So you get a very dense zone of material making it stronger. Forging provides a much better consistancy of material than casting, pressure does cool stuff!


IMHO you didnt upgrade your axles.
..just my opinion, not intended to flame you.

See above. No offense taken, I'm happy with them - unless I break them somehow. Need an eaton swap for that... They probably aren't better than 31's but sure they are better than OEM 28 (cut spline) Plus they are brand new! My current ones are pitted. My left rear axle is making a noise every revolution.

[babbage]

No flame here - but you could never break your OEM axles with a 3.73 unless you plan on upgrading to a SC.

Glenn :argue:


What about shorties? :D Did you upgrade yours? I plan on staying NA for a while, although the Eaton swaps are very attrative.

[justbob]

How does one go about "renting" a free tool :confused: :D
Any autozone:D

I think the ABS ring is already on the axle. I don't have a gun. (not that kind anyway) Ok so is that what the 5 lug nuts are for? e.g. use them to seat the lugs in place?

http://info.rockauto.com/RB/630-214-007.jpg
Not sure why they gave you lug nuts. I have allways just spun the nut on backwards and zipped the studs right on in, no problem. I have done it by hand also, doable in a pinch, but not as fast obviously.

[LeoVampire]

No flame here - but you could never break your OEM axles with a 3.73 unless you plan on upgrading to a SC.

Glenn :argue:

A guy I met a month ago here in CT has a stock 2003 never did a thing to it and he snaped one of the axle shafts and keeps it as a reminder.

[Blackened300a]

The only thing you need a press for is the abs ring. Rent a free tool for the bearing/seal (no biggie there) Lug studs walk right in with an open lug nut and a gun.

You dont need a press for the ABS ring. They are made out of metal so heat them up til they fall off, then place them on the new axle and let them air cool. They will shrink right onto the new axle within minutes.
I did this recently during my axle swap.

[babbage]

You dont need a press for the ABS ring. They are made out of metal so heat them up til they fall off, then place them on the new axle and let them air cool. They will shrink right onto the new axle within minutes.
I did this recently during my axle swap.

Isn't the ABS ring already on the Axles? Look at the picture?
http://info.rockauto.com/RB/630-214-007.jpg

What am I (obviously) missing? :confused:

[justbob]

They probably are, as is Fords replacement. I know Moser's are not.

Thats some good info Paul, I didn't know that was possible.

[massacre]

Do alot of you guys run Moser's?

[justbob]

Quite a few i'd say. Still doesn't escape having issues. Brand new, track tested.....
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn19/marauding4life/Whipple34009-1.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn19/marauding4life/?action=view&current=Whipple34009-1.jpg)

[guspech750]

^^^^:puke:^^^^

That looks awful.

[justbob]

That was Zack's 6" long launch. It was not a good day indeed.

[ImpalaSlayer]

ill never buy mosers after seeing that. what a joke

[babbage]

Wow. ^^^ - I checked my Dormans, they come with studs already installed, nice new lug nuts, but also had a bag of other lugs (look like above) and DO have the ABS rings already attached to them Although there was an "installers note" page in the top of the box that said you may have to remove the ABS rings from the old axles and install them, exactly how justbob said - heat + screwdrivers to gently pry pop them off.

[justbob]

As much as i'd like the pat on the back, Paul is FTW here!

Babbage, this job is quite simple. We could walk you right thru it.

[RF Overlord]

Finding this thread was very useful to me...it seems that Phoebe is in dire need of at least one axle...driving to Logan Airport last week and the return home this week was nerve-wracking...wom-wom-wom all the way.

I ordered 2 axles from Rock Auto online yesterday and got an email today saying they've been shipped...that's good service. I guess I know what I'll be doing next Saturday... :rolleyes:

Thanks to babbage for starting this thread and to Blackened300a for his valuable hints and tips. Having the service manual is a big help, but talking to someone who's actually DONE it is even better. :up:

[babbage]

Finding this thread was very useful to me...it seems that Phoebe is in dire need of at least one axle...driving to Logan Airport last week and the return home this week was nerve-wracking...wom-wom-wom all the way.

I ordered 2 axles from Rock Auto online yesterday and got an email today saying they've been shipped...that's good service. I guess I know what I'll be doing next Saturday... :rolleyes:

Thanks to babbage for starting this thread and to Blackened300a for his valuable hints and tips. Having the service manual is a big help, but talking to someone who's actually DONE it is even better. :up:

Cool: let me know how it goes. I seem to have a noise every rotation on my passenger rear side axle. I'm taking it to my local LM dealer on tuesday for the front wheel bearing, I'm hoping they do the rear axles too, if not I'm going to pay my guy to do it I think.

[Big Black Beast]

That's not bad for the price. Anything is better than stock.

[Go2GuyFL]

So, the Dorman axles you installed are for 3.55 or 3.73 gears? My '03 right rear is slinging gear oil and I'm thinking of replacing the axles now that I'm about to cross 100K miles.

[Blackened300a]

So, the Dorman axles you installed are for 3.55 or 3.73 gears? My '03 right rear is slinging gear oil and I'm thinking of replacing the axles now that I'm about to cross 100K miles.

The ratio doesn't matter when it comes to axles. If you change the entire diff to 31 spline, then the axles will have to be swapped to match.

[Go2GuyFL]

I have 3.55 ... Which axles do I need?

[FordNut]

Gear ratio has absoluely nothing to do with axles.

[RF Overlord]

Go2Guy, the axles you need are listed in the first post in this thread. As other said, it doesn't matter what gear ratio you have, all that matters is the number of splines...either 28 or 31. If your car is stock, you have 28.

[Go2GuyFL]

Thanks for enlightening me ... car is still stock.

P.S. Awesome sig.

[Go2GuyFL]

Pair ordered from ROCKAUTO.com to be dropped shipped to my shop for install hopefully by end of the week. Again, many thanks to the members of this forum who are passionate about this platform.