• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-

rear differential is shot

  • Thread starter Thread starter scupking
  • Start date Start date Jun 28, 2007
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last

scupking

Active Member
Sep 18, 2005
1,186
1
36
Enfield, CT
Jun 28, 2007
#1
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #1
Well, I brought my car into the local garadge to have a new drivers side tie rod put in. They where looking over other parts of the car and said that I need a new rear differential. The fluid is all black and metalic. What the heck should I do? They said it would be four hours of laber plus the part cost. I think this might be a good time to get some gears if they are going to put in a new differential. How much would this all cost?
 

four six

Member
Jan 19, 2006
506
2
18
Hobart, IN
Jun 28, 2007
#2
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #2
Gears + 31 spline + new posi lock = $$$ All depends on what you go with, but the car will be really beefed up.
 

fatboy02gt

New Member
Mar 26, 2007
0
0
2
easton, pa
Jun 28, 2007
#3
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #3
im not 100 percent sure but if the fluid has never been changed it would make sense that it is black and metalic...due to the clutch packs in the diff wearing as you drive...if you are not ready for the gears yet ask them to just change the fluid and put new additive in and tell them you would like to see it when the cover is off to check for metal chunks. if you have felt nothing and heard nothin the is a pretty good chance that there is nothing wrong.
 

scupking

Active Member
Sep 18, 2005
1,186
1
36
Enfield, CT
Jun 28, 2007
#4
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #4
fatboy02gt said:
im not 100 percent sure but if the fluid has never been changed it would make sense that it is black and metalic...due to the clutch packs in the diff wearing as you drive...if you are not ready for the gears yet ask them to just change the fluid and put new additive in and tell them you would like to see it when the cover is off to check for metal chunks. if you have felt nothing and heard nothin the is a pretty good chance that there is nothing wrong.
Click to expand...

The only thing I have noticed is my stock gears are making a good amount of noise. Other then that it feels normal.
 

fatboy02gt

New Member
Mar 26, 2007
0
0
2
easton, pa
Jun 28, 2007
#5
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #5
yeah then i would have them pull the cover when you are there and look for big chucks of metal or teeth missing or worn badly on the ring and pinion gears. i dont think its truely blown up. i think they are makin things out to be alot worst than they are. how many miles are on the car?
 

scupking

Active Member
Sep 18, 2005
1,186
1
36
Enfield, CT
Jun 28, 2007
#6
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #6
fatboy02gt said:
yeah then i would have them pull the cover when you are there and look for big chucks of metal or teeth missing or worn badly on the ring and pinion gears. i dont think its truely blown up. i think they are makin things out to be alot worst than they are. how many miles are on the car?
Click to expand...

55,000
 

merc123

Active Member
Jan 27, 2003
420
2
39
North GA
Jun 28, 2007
#7
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #7
If the stock gears are whining they could have heated up and possible to keep whining even after changing the fluid.

My rear is shot as well and still working out what I want to do

31 splines and posi is a lot of money.
 

fatboy02gt

New Member
Mar 26, 2007
0
0
2
easton, pa
Jun 28, 2007
#8
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #8
that milage seems kinda low for the rear to blow...but if they arnt pulling your leg there could possibly be enough metal to make there bearings whine...if you are not ready for the gear swap yet just have them drain it and put new fluid in with additive(very important) and listen to it. if it gets louder its time. if not you should be ok for a while.
 
D

DerekStangGT

My package is in the mail!
Feb 18, 2003
1,068
0
36
Jun 28, 2007
#9
  • Jun 28, 2007
  • #9
sounds like the clutches are worn in your stock diff. not terribley bad, you could drive on it for a lil while if you had to, but no performance driving for you. i could stand that my diff wasnt performing as it should when mine went at ~52k, so i replaced everything. 31 spline axles, torsen t2 road racing diff and new bearings. parts should cost you around 1k. ive seen labor anywhere from $500+. 4hrs labor isnt too bad actually. thats less than $400. its up to you
 

jivepepper

Founding Member
Jun 19, 2002
776
5
18
Under a Sombrero. in WV.
Jun 29, 2007
#10
  • Jun 29, 2007
  • #10
I drove my stock rear for 140k. Then rebuild it using some used parts and it wasn't to bad.

used rebuilt 31 spline explorer diff about $100
used 3.73's $35
usa alloy 31 spline axles with new bearing and wheel studs $205
ebay bearing seal and shim kit $100
fluids $20
labor $310
------------------------------------------------------------------
$770.00 for a 31 spline set up with gears complete and installed.
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Jun 29, 2007
#11
  • Jun 29, 2007
  • #11
Take it to a different shop.
 

forum155pl

New Member
Jul 11, 2006
520
0
0
the 509
Jun 29, 2007
#12
  • Jun 29, 2007
  • #12
slap a t loc rebuild kit in it and be done.. i bet thats all it is..
 

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost
Apr 6, 2004
945
1
39
Texas City TX
Jun 30, 2007
#13
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #13
four six said:
Gears + 31 spline + new posi lock = $$$ All depends on what you go with, but the car will be really beefed up.
Click to expand...

wow not to hijack this thread but your car is trapping 104 at 13.9??? When i ran a 13.9 i trapped 99.9
 

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost
Apr 6, 2004
945
1
39
Texas City TX
Jun 30, 2007
#14
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #14
jivepepper said:
I drove my stock rear for 140k. Then rebuild it using some used parts and it wasn't to bad.

used rebuilt 31 spline explorer diff about $100
used 3.73's $35
usa alloy 31 spline axles with new bearing and wheel studs $205
ebay bearing seal and shim kit $100
fluids $20
labor $310
------------------------------------------------------------------
$770.00 for a 31 spline set up with gears complete and installed.
Click to expand...


i always heard that buying used gears was like buying someone elses underwear, you just dont do it
 

scupking

Active Member
Sep 18, 2005
1,186
1
36
Enfield, CT
Jun 30, 2007
#15
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #15
I went to the shop yesterday and asked them what was going on. I then told them, well I guess its a good time to upgrade to posi. He said you "already have posi and its not working"? I didn't think our cars came with posi? Granted 2 People had my car before I bought it, so anything is possible but I don't belive them.
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Jun 30, 2007
#16
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #16
scupking said:
I went to the shop yesterday and asked them what was going on. I then told them, well I guess its a good time to upgrade to posi. He said you "already have posi and its not working"? I didn't think our cars came with posi? Granted 2 People had my car before I bought it, so anything is possible but I don't belive them.
Click to expand...
TracLok is posi when it is working properly.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,275
17,965
224
Massachusetts
Jun 30, 2007
#17
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #17
scupking said:
I went to the shop yesterday and asked them what was going on. I then told them, well I guess its a good time to upgrade to posi. He said you "already have posi and its not working"? I didn't think our cars came with posi? Granted 2 People had my car before I bought it, so anything is possible but I don't belive them.
Click to expand...



All V8 Mustangs since the mid-80's have had Posi...aka Traction-Lok. Both are a form of a limited slip differential. GM calls theirs Posi-traction (aka Posi) while Ford calls it "Traction-Lok" (T-lok for short). They are basically the same thing.

So yes, your car came stock with a limited-slip style rear end.

If you were having a tie-rod done, what were they doing poking around inside the rear end?? Sounds to me like they were looking for more work to get you on.
 

fatboy02gt

New Member
Mar 26, 2007
0
0
2
easton, pa
Jun 30, 2007
#18
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #18
Mustang5L5 said:
If you were having a tie-rod done, what were they doing poking around inside the rear end?? Sounds to me like they were looking for more work to get you on.
Click to expand...

thats exactly what i was thinking but i figured maybe he knew them and trusted them
 

scupking

Active Member
Sep 18, 2005
1,186
1
36
Enfield, CT
Jun 30, 2007
#19
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #19
fatboy02gt said:
thats exactly what i was thinking but i figured maybe he knew them and trusted them
Click to expand...

Yeah it’s a little shop down the road that we have used forever. I wanted them to also fix my passenger side wiper sprayer last week and they cracked that plastic peace (I don't no the name of it). They are going to replace it obviously for free. I know they blew one of my speakers on my old car. They also fired a guy a few months back because he tried to scam people by saying that almost every car that came in need new transmission fluid.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,275
17,965
224
Massachusetts
Jun 30, 2007
#20
  • Jun 30, 2007
  • #20
With that in mind


Go get a 2nd opinion
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
2004 Mustang 3.8L V6 vibrations above 65 MPH and differential leaks
  • joeybuddy96
  • Mar 16, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
16
Views
641
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Jul 14, 2026
joeybuddy96
J
S
Cobra 8.8 differential rebuild shop question
  • Sestemybe
  • Aug 5, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
374
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Nov 15, 2025
baileygruwell
B
S
Rear end noise while driving low and high speeds
  • skkrtis
  • Apr 7, 2025
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
969
2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk- Feb 9, 2026
Broncin491
B
Who the hell puts the wrong spark plugs in a 3.8L?
  • snowstang
  • Mar 25, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
12
Views
459
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Apr 3, 2026
LILCBRA
B
2001 roush stage 3 - sat for 5 years
  • Brando_05
  • Aug 26, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
270
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Aug 26, 2025
Brando_05
B
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?