bent axle

[94stangontca]

I have a 94 gt 5sp and heard a ticking noise from the rearend. I had a u joint replaced on the drive shaft before and suspected it might be the same problem.
When the garage put it on the hoist and in gear you could see a slight wobble on the left side and the caliper would move with the wobble. They removed the tire raised it again and the wobble was still there. The say the rotor is not bent and it must be my axle. Ford wants $440 cdn for a new one and I haven't had any luck finding one from a wrecker.

What I'd like to know is if I am better off buying new or is one from a wrecker good enough and if I wanted to upgrade the gears should it be done at the same time.

I have to drive 1,000 miles to get home so how risky is it to continue driving with the bent axle. The mechanic said the tire will wear out faster and that he wouldn't
worry until it started leaking!!

Any advice much apprecaited. Thanks

Mride is 94gt 5sp w TSW rims and flwmstr american thunder exhst.

Cheers

 

[wytstang]

O.K. me personally would park it until I could fix it. If the axle is bent I can only imagine the binding that's going on inside the differential (chewing up the spider gears). You can get 28 spline axles (28 is stock spline count) from superior axles for like $280 a set from summitracing.com. They will be stronger than stock and will hold till you want to upgrade to 33 spline and differential.

 

[wytstang]

Oh yeah welcome to stangnet stick around and enjoy the learning experience

 

[stangbanger94]

for the price that ford wants for 1 new axle, you are definitely better off to buy a set of aftermarket axles for about the same price like Wyt said.

 

[94stangontca]

Thanks everyone

I'll post when I get resolved.

This a wicked forum and it sure takes alot of stress out of having to just talk to the dealers or garages. Look forward to learning more about improving my ride.

cheers

 

[CManT1914]

I would not suggest replacing the stock axles with more 28spline axles. If you're gonna replace them, you might as well upgrade. The only downside is you have to replace the differential at the same time with 31splines. But if you have the cash, just do it now. Summitracing is a great place to buy parts. Mosier, Superior, FRPP, they're all good.

 

[94stangontca]

ok I think I have found some axles. They are a steeda 31 spline axle kit.

Does anybody have comments about there products good or bad.

I will need to upgrade differential can anybody reccommend a good one.

If I do alot of highway driving what would be the best gear ratio to go with so I can still get good cruising but more instant acceleration.

As I am knew here what is the best order of mods. Gears, headers then fuel intake etc.

Cheers

Dk Grn 94GT

 

[wytstang]

Steeda usually makes/relables good products. Not sure how much there going for, but Superior axles have proven them selfes good and go for around $230 a set for 31 spline. As far as differential Auburns are great, and depending on the future of the car n/a or power adder will determine what gears to use.

 

[GRGT1994]

Gears are a GREAT place to start making modifications. In fact, that is probably the best real mod you should look at doing (by real, I mean something over $200). So fortunately, your bent axel could set you off well with a really nice rebuild rear end.

On the down side, you might drop a little more than the $400 that your Ford dealer wants for just the one axle. For example, your list would probably include a pinion/carrier ring gear set, rear end rebuild set (for the new bearings, races and shims), axles, differential carrier. A real rough guess at the total bill in parts alone is $600 to $1000 for all that (new). Then labor for install would easily be well over $500. Or you could do it yourself. Rear ends are not that bad to do yourself (I did my gears and I'm a total novice wrench). But even if you do it yourself you gotta figure in new tools that will prolly cost at least half what you would spend on install labor (but you get to keep the tools!). But you would be well set for any future mods.

Sorry for rambling.

On your question about gears, the rule of thumb is 3.73 for manual, and 3.73 for auto. But that is a rule that's made to be broken (and almost always is - I got 4.10's in my stick).

Anyway, welcome and good luck!!

 

[94stangontca]

Thanks

Summitracing has a superior axle kit w/bearings for $250. and steeda has a kit similar for couple of bucks more.

My problem is I'm on vacation and the biggest city in this province is Halifax Nova Scotia which is 3 hours away. I figured if I order the parts online and have them delivered I can have them installed locally. There are some mechanics that have been pretty straight with me here I am not quite comfortable trying a job like axles, diff and gears myself.

The fact that the one axle alone from Ford is more than a complete set of upgraded axles from Superior or Steeda makes me want to do everything at the same time. I love the car but its got 100,000 miles on it and what I'd really love is to sell and buy a 95-98 Cobra. My brother thinks I should get an axle from a wrecker and sell her and look for the Cobra.

Thanks guys and Cheers (nobody rambles more than me. The more I post I am sure the briefer they will be)

 

[CManT1914]

On your question about gears, the rule of thumb is 3.73 for manual, and 3.73 for auto. But that is a rule that's made to be broken (and almost always is - I got 4.10's in my stick).

Anyway, welcome and good luck!!

I thought it was 3.73 for stick, and 4.10 for auto?

94stangontca, do a search about "gears" and you will find an overwhelming supply of information about them.

 

[GRGT1994]

Wow, I guess I wasn't paying attention when I wrote that. Ya 4.10 for auto, and 3.73 for stick.

But the way 94stangontca is talking, maybe he should just get an axle from the junkyard, get it installed, sell it, and buy what he really wants.

I love the car but its got 100,000 miles on it and what I'd really love is to sell and buy a 95-98 Cobra.

BTW, there is a BIG difference between a '95 Cobra and a '96 Cobra. The early 4.6L motors sucked wind big time.

 

[94stangontca]

Like I said I love my ride but I haven't really modified it that much. If I sink the money to do these upgrades I'll be keeping it.

How much different are the 94-95 Cobras over the GTs in terms of performance?
I figured it was alot faster but if the mods I'm looking at would make the GT perform as well It would be worth doing but if I would still not come close to the Cobras performance I would prefer to sell and get a Cobra and start upgrading.

This whole bent axle thing caught me by surprise.

Thanks everyone

 

[CManT1914]

Like I said I love my ride but I haven't really modified it that much. If I sink the money to do these upgrades I'll be keeping it.

How much different are the 94-95 Cobras over the GTs in terms of performance?
I figured it was alot faster but if the mods I'm looking at would make the GT perform as well It would be worth doing but if I would still not come close to the Cobras performance I would prefer to sell and get a Cobra and start upgrading.

This whole bent axle thing caught me by surprise.

Thanks everyone

This is taken from the 94/95 FAQ section, it's a sticky at the top of the tech forum.

14. Cobra Specs
Here is a list of items that are unique to the Cobra vs the GT (94-95)
If anyone has anything to add to this list feel free to e-mail me.

Engine/trans

The Cobra engine was under rated at 240bhp from the factory campared to the GT's 225bhp and was only available with a 5 speed and 3.08 rear end gears.

Cast iron GT40 heads
Cast aluminum Cobra intake manifold
Crane 1.7 rocker arms
24lb fuel injectors
Cobra specific ECU (computer)
"Cobra" stamped valve covers with build sticker and signature
Engine oil cooler
Front mounted power steering fluid cooler
Lightened flywheel
Phosphate coated transmission gears
Overdriven waterpump pulley
Cobra specific camshaft
Cam specs: Duration: 227°/Intake & 270°/Exhaust
Lift: .485/.485 Intake/Exhaust
Lobe separation: 118.5°

Suspension/Brakes

13" Front brakes
11.65" rear brakes
"Cobra" embossed front calipers
Cobra specific brake booster
Cobra specific rear sway bar
Cobra specific shocks/struts/springs
K-member that is slightly stiffer than the GT's
No strut tower brace

Interior
Steering wheel center / Airbag cover embossed with "Cobra"
White faced gauges
160mph speedometer
"Cobra" embroidered floor mats

Exterior
Cobra specific 17" wheels
Cobra specific rear spoiler with integrated 3rd brake light
Cobra specific front bumper cover
SVT emblem on decklid (95-up, not on 94)
Cobra emblems on front fenders (no 5.0L emblems)
"Crystal" (clear) headlights
Round cobra specific foglights

Other info:
The 94-95 Cobra (and GT) came with a 60mm throttlebody, not the 65mm alot of people believe it to have. The 93 cobras came with a 65mm.
Although the 94-95 Cobra came with 24lb injectors it still uses the same MAF (mass airflow meter) as the GT. The Cobra specific computer compensates for the 24lb injectors.

 

[94stangontca]

GT or Cobra?

Well it looks like the Cobra would have a headstart on the GT on some of the mods I'd like to make but there are some gorgeous GT's w wicked mods posted
here and I think I'll stick w the GT

The fact I already have the GT and will mod the rear is a headstart for me plus if I continue to mod the GT I'm gonna learn a helluva lot about improving my performance and I can pick and choose based on what everyones experienced
and what mods are good or bad and which brands to go with etc.

Is there a site where I can see the 94GT axle schematic broken down piece by piece to ensure I replace everything necessary?

Thanks everyone