what % 03 have soft axle problem?

[Mote]

My '03 300A has 44K miles. It was built in Aug '02. What are the odds it has the soft axle issue? I will (hopefully) soon be putting 4:10's in, and I keep wondering if I really should save up for axles too and do them both.

[fastblackmerc]

My '03 300A has 44K miles. It was built in Aug '02. What are the odds it has the soft axle issue? I will (hopefully) soon be putting 4:10's in, and I keep wondering if I really should save up for axles too and do them both.

If you haven't experienced the issues yet, leaking seals, noise, etc. I'd say your MM wasn't affected.

[RoyLPita]

Any of them made before 1/1/03.

[Smalldogg/03mm]

I don't no when mines was made but I replace my axles at 88xxx and again at 130xxx.... The last time put gear in and I haven't had a problem yet.. Knock on wood.... both times the seal went bad..

[mcb26]

Rreplaced Axels on a 6-19-03 build due to pitting.

[fastblackmerc]

I don't no when mines was made but I replace my axles at 88xxx and again at 130xxx.... The last time put gear in and I haven't had a problem yet.. Knock on wood.... both times the seal went bad..

Check the label on the driver's side door. It will have the build date.

[RF Overlord]

The Blackbird (built in August of '02) started to develop the issue at about 34,xxx. It was only discovered when I had the 4.10s installed, but I was able to get it covered under warranty.

The issue supposedly only affects cars built before January of '03. Phoebe was built in May of '03, and the passenger side axle went south at 130,000 miles, while the driver's side was still fine. Not sure if this was related to the issue in question as the mileage was so high, but there it is...

[JimmyXR7]

The Blackbird (built in August of '02) started to develop the issue at about 34,xxx. It was only discovered when I had the 4.10s installed, but I was able to get it covered under warranty.

The issue supposedly only affects cars built before January of '03. Phoebe was built in May of '03, and the passenger side axle went south at 130,000 miles, while the driver's side was still fine. Not sure if this was related to the issue in question as the mileage was so high, but there it is...

I am a Mercury Man, but this has me worried. My Marauder has only 70,000 miles on it and I did change the differential gear oil at 45,000 miles. My 1968 Mercury, my first car, has over 200,000 miles on it and the axles were never in question. The 1968 has a 9 inch rear axle assembly and the gear oil was replaced at approximately 120,000 miles.

These newer 8.8 inch rear axle assemblies appear to have significant problems. Following failure of the 8.8 inch axle assembly, a recommendation on the Bronco site discusses using the older 9 inch rear axle assemblies as a replacement.

Jim

[YankeeMarauder]

Passenger side was gone when I bought my Marauder 5 months ago and was making a heck of a ruckus, driver side was on its way out. My car at that time had 48K on the clock. She was built late June 2002.

[TFB]

These newer 8.8 inch rear axle assemblies appear to have significant problems. Following failure of the 8.8 inch axle assembly, a recommendation on the Bronco site discusses using the older 9 inch rear axle assemblies as a replacement.

Jim

Yup unless you can build enough HP to twist a axle(fairly easy with the 28 spline units)the old 9 inchers just don't fail... It's the Shi**y design of the 8.8" that uses the axle as a inside bearing race that causes problems... Loose a axle bearing on a 9" & 99.9% of the time, all you need is the bearing...

I've had to replace 8.8" axles on Turbo Coupes, but lucky my Marauder is still quiet and it's one of the early ones...

[JBeezy]

I believe the original owner had my axles replaced already. I have 34xxx on it now. No problems so far. I plan on installing some 4.10's soon. Hopefully all will b good when I go in

[Blackened300a]

My axles were pitted when I did the gears at 40k miles. I eventually changed the axles at 65k miles due to a noise. My build date is May 31st 2002.

[Black Terror]

[QUOTE]. It was built in Aug '02. What are the odds it has the soft axle issue? [QUOTE]

Odds are real high when built in '02. You can check when replacing rear gears easily.

[Mr. Man]

Mine was built May 29 2002. Still quite but only has 17K. What sort of noise does it make when they start to go? Grinding, chirping, something else?

[YankeeMarauder]

Mine was built May 29 2002. Still quite but only has 17K. What sort of noise does it make when they start to go? Grinding, chirping, something else?

Mine sounded like a scuffing noise. The best way I can describe it is like when a brake rotor is on a brake lathe and it hits that "not so true" spot. Like a "scuff scuff miss...scuff scuff miss.."

Passenger side was brutally pitted, drivers side showed signs of uneven wear. It seems to me that most people noticed it on the passenger side more than driver side, but I could be wrong.

[jeffrt]

My passenger side went around 70k miles.
Axle seal went, and when they opened it up, the shaft was shot.

[prchrman]

My '03 300A has 44K miles. It was built in Aug '02. What are the odds it has the soft axle issue? I will (hopefully) soon be putting 4:10's in, and I keep wondering if I really should save up for axles too and do them both.

Probably about 100% chance.

[breeze]

mine had them round 30-40k miles, oasis report shows all.

[Mote]

I better start shopping for axles then. I'll wait to do the 4:10's until I can do both. I can get the FMS-4210-C install kit and get them both done. Arg.

[Blackened300a]

Mine was built May 29 2002. Still quite but only has 17K. What sort of noise does it make when they start to go? Grinding, chirping, something else?

Your car was really built 2 days before mine?

[Mr. Man]

Your car was really built 2 days before mine?
I'm # 187 to your 363

[boatmangc]

Mine were toast at 39K

[blazen71]

Replaced mine at 50K.

[RF Overlord]

What sort of noise does it make when they start to go? Grinding, chirping, something else?Phoebe made a sort of low-pitched "woh-woh-woh" sound...like the grinding disk brakes make when they get to metal-on-metal.

[fastblackmerc]

Phoebe made a sort of low-pitched "woh-woh-woh" sound...like the grinding disk brakes make when they get to metal-on-metal.

Or, when you see your rear tire passing you on the highway....... :eek:

[RF Overlord]

Passenger side was brutally pitted, drivers side showed signs of uneven wear.Phoebe was the exact same way.
It seems to me that most people noticed it on the passenger side more than driver side, but I could be wrong.No, you're correct. I've read the same thing on CVN.

[RF Overlord]

Or, when you see your rear tire passing you on the highway....... :eek:No, that would be more of an "AHHHHHHH!!!" sound...or maybe a "He'p me, Jeebus!"

[justbob]

Aug/02 as well IIRC. No leaks at all, but axle gave off low rubbing sound for close to a year, then took her Tennessee and back at 80 MPH or so and they sounded BAD. replaced at around 65,000 or so. I believe I only paid $290 for the TSB kit at the dealer. (listed at the time for $420) A nice "can't you beat that??? Dealers on the net advertise WAY lower" got me a smile and a "how about cost plus 10%"... Never hurts to ask nicely :)

[Chevyguy]

The 03 problem was really bad in Police cars as they ground em down big time seen pics with giant grooves cut into the axles.

I would not trust any 03 model with the factory axles regardless of the build date.

Even with "good axles" the 8.8 eats axles far more than it should. My 2001 chewed up the axles at 120K The gear oil change interval is a joke, I have 60,500 miles now and it's getting changed once the spring thaw arrives. Would have done it this fall but my Lincoln project ate up all my time.

[justbob]

This is such a small, cheap, and easy to address problem compared to so many other cars out there. I can deal with this issue no problem!

[2vmodular]

I've acquired a collection of documents from the nhtsa about axle failures in the 2003 cars:

http://www.p71interceptor.com/nhtsa/0303axle/

Of particular intrest is this document which shows an engineering analysis of a failed axle:

http://www.p71interceptor.com/nhtsa/0303axle/INRL-PE04010-18095P.pdf

and this document where ford is answering questions to the nhtsa:

http://www.p71interceptor.com/nhtsa/0303axle/INRL-PE04010-17727P.pdf

[TFB]

About a year ago, a friend who has a small auto repair shop had to replace the complete rear end assembly in a June '02 build 300A(VIN is less than 450 from mine)... It's right axle had broken and had been run so long the axle cut into the housing... Already over 100K miles, the owner(female) claimed it never made any noise before the wheel fell off...

[RF Overlord]

the owner(female) claimed it never made any noise before the wheel fell off...Uh....yeah. Right.

Female drivers = :drive:

[yjmud]

mine started growling and cut down at 85k on my way back from fla
it was trying to find and replace in a parking lot

[yjmud]

4.10 31 spline and e locker here we come!!!!!!!!!