Question about gears

hbk_136

New Member
Feb 28, 2004
194
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Southeastern GA
I bought a mustang, and it had 3.55 gear installed. I drove it yesterday and it got a horrible shaking that was random. I got it home and have it jacked up on blocks. We were examining it, and when i rotated the driveshaft, it sounded kinda bad and rough inside the rear axle. We now think its the gears that need to be fixed/replaced. Anyone else had this experience, or similar, that can lend a helping hand.
 
I think we have found a solution now. We now believe that the rear end fluid has been leaking, not brake fluid. Because of this now, the rear end/gears were grinding. So they might be shot or not, but we have to replace the rear seals on the axles. Maybe someone else has had this problem, and can lend some help, or this might help someone. While i remove the axle, i might as well install some 3.73's. :D
 
The only other cause in which I can think of a grinding sound comeing from, other than lack of fluid, is if the pinion angle/depth was not set right with the gear install. Has it done the vibration since you got the car or did it start not too long ago?
 
We bought the car in Tampa, and drove 300 miles home, and it ran perfectly fine. We just noticed the, what we thought at the time, brake fluid leaking in the back right fenderwell. We just figured we would rebuild the caliper and fix the leak. Then we realized that it wasn't there, and it started about 400 after i bought the car. So im thinking it's probably not the pinion angle depth, but i still have no definite answers. Thanks for the responses and help, i will now take those into consideration.
 
Good news, we found the problem. After opening up the rear end box, we removed the c-clip and took out the right axle. It turns out the bearings we not all the way in and the rubber seal was massively worn out, causing the rear end fluid leak. When we pulled the cover off, hardly any rear end fluid drained out, apparently it was very low. But all the gears look good and all, so its all cool i hope. Going to advanced auto now to buy the new bearings and seals.
 
hbk_136 said:
Good news, we found the problem. After opening up the rear end box, we removed the c-clip and took out the right axle. It turns out the bearings we not all the way in and the rubber seal was massively worn out, causing the rear end fluid leak. When we pulled the cover off, hardly any rear end fluid drained out, apparently it was very low. But all the gears look good and all, so its all cool i hope. Going to advanced auto now to buy the new bearings and seals.

Hard to come across a good installer/mechanic these days.