Rear End Gear Swap

[jmhkas]

Hey guys,

Well the car is up on stands, rear diff cover is off, so are tires and brake calipers. I'm lost as to what to do now. It says to remove C clips to be able to remove axle, but I'm having a hard time getting to them, maybe because I'm looking at the wrong thing??? Also I cannot remove driveshaft bolts. They are on there pretty good. Any suggestion or comments would be great. I got the notebook out here at the car because I'm looking at the gear install on Corral. So I'll be replying promptly!

Thanks beforehand

 

[cbarr300]

can't help you on the install..but I can help you on the driveshaft bolts.

Get some PB blaster and soak them.

If you don't have any pb blaster try using a propane torch to heat the bolts up and then they should come right out.


if all that fails....either:

A: get a BFH
B: put the wrench on the bolts..and then use your feet to help you get some extra power. I put my back against the tire and pushed with my feet...worked wonders

good luck

 

[Grn92LX]

To remove the axles and C clips you must first remove the small bolt holding in the carrier pin. Be VERY careful removing this bolt, theyre known for snapping! If I recall its 5/16". Once you remove that bolt, pop the carrier pin out, then push the axle in a bit and then remove the c clip, then slide the shaft out.

 

[red95gtconvert]

Don't forget to unbolt the ABS sensors or you won't be able to slide the axles in to remove the C clips, be very careful when doing this because the ABS sensor housing is made of plastic and it can break real easy, plus they are not cheap.

 

[Aryan15]

How are you removing the driveshaft bolts with the wheels off the ground? I didn't think you could use the drivetrain. Anywho, I used a breaker bar with the jack handle as a pipe. And long nose needle pliers to get the c-clips out.

 

[mgcook]

if you dont know what you are doing i'd suggest having someone else do it for you...because you are probably going to have some major whine

 

[OrangeMustangGt]

agreed! you need to know how to set up backlash, and read the pattern correctly. Its not that hard if you have the correct tools, and i did it without a press. all you really need is a micrometer and a dial indicator

 

[jmhkas]

where I was screwing up I guess was to remove the ABS sensors. I was hoping I wouldn't have to fool with that. I kept pushing on the axle to undo the C clip to no avail. Also with the driveshaft bolts...the rear end is HIGH off the ground and I guess it just has never been removed. Even when I did the tranny swap I didn't remove them simply because I couldn't. Reason I'm doing it myself is so I can learn. I'm in the military...job is wheeled vehical maintenance, but I dont fool with the rear ends. I mostly just mess with the engines, trannies, and transfers along with your simple services. Thanks for all the advice guys. I swear this is the best forum for support that I've ever been to. Normally you just have ppl bi*ching at you.

 

[GRGT1994]

You should probably plan on breaking those ABS sensors when taking them out for clearance. Problem is, the plate that they install in generally corrodes enough to permanently bind them in. Some people are very lucky and get them out without any problems, but you might as well assume that will be another $200 you will be spending, and then be pleasantly surprised if you dont need too.

For the driveshaft bolts, I used a long screwdriver, and jammed it in to stop it from spinning.

As far as the rest of the gear swap, I'm honestly a little concerned if you haven't read enough walk through posts and instructions so that you would have known all this before you drained the rear end. A gear swap can be a big, and troublesome deal. And you need to go in very prepared for what lies ahead. Not to scare you. I did my gears, and that was my first major mod. No whine whatsoever.

Good luck.

 

[4Jenna]

You cant get the c-clips or d/s out and you plan on changing gears.....cant wait to see this outcome.

Whos gonna press the new bearings on, whos gonna check backlash/preload, whos gonna check the wear pattern?


Also how did you do a tranny swap w/o removing the d/s?

I may be harsh, but the truth is the truth.

 

[Aryan15]

Thems is fightin words, glad I don't own a sn95

 

[4Jenna]

Thems is fightin words, glad I don't own a sn95

And if you did what?

Just stating the obvious, dudes in over his head. A gear swap isnt for a novice.

 

[drakesdad]

where I was screwing up I guess was to remove the ABS sensors. I was hoping I wouldn't have to fool with that. I kept pushing on the axle to undo the C clip to no avail. Also with the driveshaft bolts...the rear end is HIGH off the ground and I guess it just has never been removed. Even when I did the tranny swap I didn't remove them simply because I couldn't. Reason I'm doing it myself is so I can learn. I'm in the military...job is wheeled vehical maintenance, but I dont fool with the rear ends. I mostly just mess with the engines, trannies, and transfers along with your simple services. Thanks for all the advice guys. I swear this is the best forum for support that I've ever been to. Normally you just have ppl bi*ching at you.

Hey man....a few comments for you.....welcome to :SNSign: , thanks for serving our country, this is a great forum for learning......
I read Eades posting......and trust me...he is not %^$#ing with you.....lol....I did not do my rear end......I paid a friend who has done several stangs...and his dad is some type of mech. design guy at Ford. I was surprised at how meticulous he was with the dial indicator........this project is not a easy one.........I back you 100 percent on the "want to learn", and doing hands on is the best way to learn.......do yourself a huge favor....grab one of your senior techs from the base....pay him a few bones...or barter your services.......and get some help.......
good luck and keep us informed...
Will

 

[jmhkas]

Hey hey...back again and everyone has had some honest comments...I take it as positive criticism . So I got everything almost back together. Axles are in including C clips. Only problem now is I can't figure out how to get the two gears in that fell out right after I removed the pin running through the the S clip etc. The gears I'm talking about are located between the two gears connected to the axle gears. I was talking to my g/f's father (who is a Camaro buff ) and he was talking about having two ppl rotate the axles or something while sliding the gears in?? He was trying to explain it on the phone and I didn't really know what he was talking about. Someone please fill me in on this. As with the ABS sensors I scored big time assumming from the comments everyone has posted. I went today to the ol junk yard to go get a manual comp to replace the auto comp because it was getting on my nerves. I went ahead and asked for the rear ABS sensors off a 95 GT. The grand total was $50. I go there alot and I guess he just gave me a deal.

The question about the tranny swap w/o removing the driveshaft. Well of course I removed it from the rear of the AODE tranny. I didn't unbolt it from the rear-end though. The way I did this was before putting the T5 tranny into the air, I slipped the yoke into the back of the tranny, then I went ahead and pushed the tranny under the car and jacked it up. I was having a hard time with the bolts on the end of the driveshaft because of the lack of air tools. My g/f's father had put them on there way to tight for my skinny ass to get off. Getting the tranny lined up though was rather difficult, but not too hard. I did the entire setup myself. Once I got the tranny partially in the air, I put the tranny on top of my chest and just push it up and lined it up.

Any tips on getting past my problem would be great. I'm almost done and I'll fill you in on how horrible it is ...

 

[4Jenna]

Those are the spider gears, you have to roll them in

 

[drakesdad]

I got to tell you that is the first I have heard of anyone installing a tranny like that..........don't get me wrong...I have done some backwards azz chit before..lol

whatever it takes right.........you may want to invest in a torch.....or a hand held Map gas.......nothing like PB blast or heat to loosen up a bolt.......

 

[OrangeMustangGt]

make sure you replace all the bearings and the trac-loc plates while your in there!

there is alot involved....it took me a LONG time to do my 4:45 gear/locker install on my bronco.....and i ended up making alot of tools to use for driving bearings.....worked out ok though!

 

[4Jenna]

use a press...simple

 

[red95gtconvert]

use a press...simple

Leaving the pinion bearing in a 200* for 30 minutes and sliding it on works great, at least it did for me.

 

[jmhkas]

I bought the little "ring and pinion install kit" from summit that had all the goodies in it. I went ahead and replaced the axle bearings and seals at the same time. I used the press at the unit since I had a key. I'm heading out now to try to finish everything up. Hopefuly getting the spider gears in wont be such a task. Thanks for everyones input.