03 GT Rear-End Saga

Brody1 · Oct 18, 2007

Here's my story/ I have an 03 Centennial GT Convert with 59K miles. I just got the car out of the shop after upgrading to 3:73 Ford Motorsport gears. This took two months of trial and error by the mechanic. First attempt, just gears replaced. Massive howling and gnashing resulted. Second attempt, new bearings, axles, clutch discs replaced. Still lots of howling. Mechanic had a body guy look at it and they determined the housing was bent. I purchased a complete 99 GT rear axle assembly. Mechanic took out old parts and replaced with all the new parts I had purchased thus far for the rebuild. The howling is now only intermittent, mostly when no pressure on gears (coasting). Firstly, the car is not going back to the same shop. Secondly, I don't where to take it now. I am hoping to find someone who is well versed in rear end rebuilds. I knew I didn't want to tackle it myself, but I think I could have done at least as bad as this mechanic has done. I'm in Northern Alabama, near Huntsville. Advice and comments requested.

Brody

hotdog71 · Oct 20, 2007

That sucks man

It sounds like maybe they got the shim spacing wrong or the crush sleeve or maybe they forgot to put in the friction modifier in.

Your saying when you are coasting it's not howling but when accelerate it howls this sounds like they screwed up the install to me and blamed your car

Was it howling before you took it in for 3.73 gear change? If not I would go down there and demand my money back or sue them for doing a crap job.
First take it to Ford and get them to diagnose the problem then when they tell you its the gears go back to the installers and demand your cash back or get a lawyer and take them to court.

just remember if it wasn't doing it before they got it, then it's something they did that caused it and any judge should/would see it that way.

good luck and don't let them get away with it!

showtime01 · Oct 20, 2007

Ok so I was thinking of up-grading the rear gears cause from what ive heard it makes a big difference in acceleration. Does anyone know how much of a difference up graded gears will make and is worth the time and money?

I have a pretty much stock 01' GT with almost 86k on it, is there somthing else i should do with the car's performance before hitting the rear gears?

joshjwc9 · Oct 20, 2007

If the gears are installed correctly and correct amount of gear oil and friction modifier put in will make it accelerate faster and shouldnt change the sound of the rear unless you bought motives.

To buy gears (160 bux) gear oil and FM (40), about 200 ish for install it is worth the money as a catted midpipe. Its something every Mustang owner should do as our 3.27's (or lower) really hurt the SN95 GT's and Foxes.

To the original poster, have you thought about suing the shop? They should warranty their work and you should get what you paid for, 3.73 gears installed correctly without any difference or sounds. Or they should pay to someone else to have a rear end with the gears you want installed at another shop/dealer.

Brody1 · Oct 25, 2007

Good Replies

Thanks for the replies. All experts thinks the pinion gear depth wasn't set right. In any case, you are all right, the shop should stand behind their work. Problem is they are also friends (some friends right?) I will give them a chance to do the right thing (pay an expert to fix it) or refund some money. I specifically asked for the Ford Motorsport 3:73 gears but he went out and bought Motive. I told him to take them back and I bought the Ford Motorsport gears. To the one poster, it's the other way around, noisy when coasting, quiet when accelerating. Maybe it's the Steeda SS exhaust system covering up the howl and I just can't hear it. It's a great upgrade! I noticed the difference in acceleration immediately.

2002BLGT · Oct 25, 2007

Brody1 said:
Thanks for the replies. All experts thinks the pinion gear depth wasn't set right. In any case, you are all right, the shop should stand behind their work. Problem is they are also friends (some friends right?) I will give them a chance to do the right thing (pay an expert to fix it) or refund some money. I specifically asked for the Ford Motorsport 3:73 gears but he went out and bought Motive. I told him to take them back and I bought the Ford Motorsport gears. To the one poster, it's the other way around, noisy when coasting, quiet when accelerating. Maybe it's the Steeda SS exhaust system covering up the howl and I just can't hear it. It's a great upgrade! I noticed the difference in acceleration immediately.

dont drive it , get it towed to a shop that knows what they are doing , or take to a Ford Dealer if you cannot find a shop with a good rep for gear installs in your area ......I have used ford and motive gears and never had problems or even a hint of noise on either brand.......

mustangkid05 · Oct 25, 2007

more then likely it was an installation error

Heratik · Oct 25, 2007

Perhaps a transmission shop would be more familiar with setting up a diff properly. Chances are they deal with them on a day to day basis since they are a part of the transaxle on a fwd car.

goshia · Oct 26, 2007

How many miles do you have on the new 3.73 gears. If the backlash was set wrong and you have driven is a few thousand miles the gears are now patterned and the sound will never go away.

Go out and buy new 3.73 from Ford Racing have them shipped to Mikronite for hardening then shipped back to you. I just lost a bearing in the rear end and had the pumpkin open took my ring and pinion out and I have no wear pattern what so ever after 15K miles on them.

http://www.weather-check.com/3_73_gear_&_pinion.htm

http://www.mikronite.com

cronin49 · Oct 26, 2007

hotdog71 said:
That sucks man

It sounds like maybe they got the shim spacing wrong or the crush sleeve or maybe they forgot to put in the friction modifier in.

Your saying when you are coasting it's not howling but when accelerate it howls this sounds like they screwed up the install to me and blamed your car

Was it howling before you took it in for 3.73 gear change? If not I would go down there and demand my money back or sue them for doing a crap job.
First take it to Ford and get them to diagnose the problem then when they tell you its the gears go back to the installers and demand your cash back or get a lawyer and take them to court.

just remember if it wasn't doing it before they got it, then it's something they did that caused it and any judge should/would see it that way.

good luck and don't let them get away with it!

He said it howls when he's coasting, not the other way around. I wouldn't take any advice from this cretin, he can't even read.

03 GT Rear-End Saga

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