Removing dog bone and Convertible weight?

hollywoodstang · Nov 27, 2008

Hey guys.

Do i need to remove the front bumper/fender to remover the convertible weight in the front? Do i need this thing really?

And how about the "Dog bone" or "Donkey balls" at the axle? Do i take this out too? I have 4:10 in the back if that matters.

Is there any-down side to these mods?

Thanks

BlownFiveLiter · Nov 27, 2008

I've read things that indicate the dog bone is "tuned" to the factory gearing, but over time when the rubber bushings dry out, it becomes useless anyway. You could probably eliminate it safely.

I can't answer the other question, since I'm a hard-top guy.

Pokageek · Nov 27, 2008

Does removing that bone result in louder gear noise or whine?

BlownFiveLiter · Nov 27, 2008

It shouldn't. It's more of a vibration dampener, than anything else, as far as I know.

toyman · Nov 27, 2008

Pokageek said:
Does removing that bone result in louder gear noise or whine?

Mine is long gone. First removed it when I went to 4:10's.

hollywoodstang · Nov 28, 2008

What a bout that 25lb weight in the front fender? Do i have to take the fender and bumper out to take that weight out?

chaos254 · Nov 28, 2008

hollywoodstang said:
What a bout that 25lb weight in the front fender? Do i have to take the fender and bumper out to take that weight out?

just jack up the car and you will be able to get to it with no problems. You don't need to take the fender/bumper off.

juiced_94gt · Nov 28, 2008

When you remove the dog bone make sure you leave the bracket that holds it on the car because it's what the bump stop hits, if you dont and you buy a aluminum driveshaft it will grind on the e-brake cable.

mhespenh · Nov 28, 2008

hollywoodstang said:
What a bout that 25lb weight in the front fender? Do i have to take the fender and bumper out to take that weight out?

There's a weight in the front fender? Why would they do that?

I need weight in the REAR for goodness sake- ever tried driving in the rain?

hollywoodstang · Nov 28, 2008

Yes there is weight.

And it weighs 25lbs. it supposed to balance out the car or something. Battery on the driver so i guess ford decided to put 25lbs on the other side or some people say it prevents cowl shakes....

I don't have a cowl so there is nothing to "Shake" for me and even if i did have a cowl i just don't see how that 25lb weight will not "Shake"

That is not even a science. i sometimes wonder what ford does...(instead of putting weights in the car they should have put sub-frame connectors from factory)

Anyways. I am going to put some axle brace on so i "HAVE" to take that dog bone(donkey balls) out.

AND WHAT IS THIS?! "When you remove the dog bone make sure you leave the bracket that holds it on the car because it's what the bump stop hits, if you dont and you buy a aluminum driveshaft it will grind on the e-brake cable." What do you mean by this?

I have an aluminum drive shaft...

When i take out the dog bone i am going to be taking the whole thing out. Is this going to be a problem?

I bought an adjustable pinion snubber already so if that matters.

I will be doing this today and after that i am off to "L.A auto show with my girlfriend so i can sucker her into buying a 2010 mustang"<----I highly doubt it.

Let me know thanks guys

By the way all the polished goodies are ready to go in. I will be doing this may be a month or two when i get more motivated.

View attachment 288106

View attachment 288108

hollywoodstang · Nov 28, 2008

Okay it's 7am here and i am about to tackle this.

So i will let you all know if i mess anything up. Most likely i will anyway.

Something always go wrong with this car. cross your fingers for me. And if anything "shakes" I will report it and i will have to "Live" with it i guess.

See you in a few

hollywoodstang · Nov 28, 2008

Okay. I got it done. It was easy as everyone said. AND nothing went wrong. When you do this just be careful. These are heavy specially the front 25lbs weight. Don't drop it on your face it will hurt!

And for the dog bone; I took it around the block and jumped on a highway and i didn't notice any difference...It doesn't vibe more at all. And the cowl does not shake without that 25lbs weight gone.

I can see my cold air kit way better(better air travel too may be...) and it makes it easier to get to also, So that's a plus

And the dog bone is not rubber! It's made out of cast iron. And there are 2 rubber bushings inside. these will not make the drive train vibration any less. I think it's just there for lift point more or less. I just don't see how these are useful.

I left the snubber plate on for the timing being. Most likely i will end up enlarging the hole for the axle brace bolt to go through later on.

You will need 3/8 16" 1 1/2 inch replacement bolt so you can mount the snubber plate back on. The stock bolts that were on the dog bone is too long. I included some pics so of any of you vert owners out there want to do this you will know what it'll look like.

Thanks for all the help guys

Jesus! look at this thing!
The front vert 25lbs factory weight and the dog bone(Donkey balls)
View attachment 288094

The size of bolts you will need and I also used 3/8 washers to go along with it
View attachment 288096

The MYTH about the dog bone is BUSTED!

Husky44 · Nov 29, 2008

hollywoodstang:

It may be too late to ask this, but did you notice any difference in the ride height of your front-end when you took out the 25# weight?

When I pulled my smog gear and A/C, my nose got a little higher off the ground. I'm concerned that if I remove another 25#, I might get even taller! IF it does, I might just swap my 2" lowering springs back in, to see if it rides at a reasonable height now.

Regardless, thanks for being the guinea pig, and for passing it on!

hollywoodstang · Nov 29, 2008

Husky44 said:
hollywoodstang:

It may be too late to ask this, but did you notice any difference in the ride height of your front-end when you took out the 25# weight?

When I pulled my smog gear and A/C, my nose got a little higher off the ground. I'm concerned that if I remove another 25#, I might get even taller! IF it does, I might just swap my 2" lowering springs back in, to see if it rides at a reasonable height now.

Regardless, thanks for being the guinea pig, and for passing it on!

No I didn't notice any difference. I was worried about that too. but it's still same drop. My car is pretty slammed. I have saleen springs and X2 ball joints so my front end is little too low.

But no shakes and no weird noise from the rear. I drove around in the morning too and i can't notice any difference. May be i got lucky

Good luck and i think you will be okay

Venom351R · Nov 30, 2008

juiced_94gt said:
When you remove the dog bone make sure you leave the bracket that holds it on the car because it's what the bump stop hits, if you dont and you buy a aluminum driveshaft it will grind on the e-brake cable.

Ah crap I took the bracket off when I took the dog bone out. Anyone got an extra bracket laying around b/c Id like to get an aluminum drive shaft.

Dino Dino Bambino · Dec 1, 2008

Can someone who's removed the dogbone tell me how much it actually weighs? I've heard it weighs 8lb but that seems a bit heavy to me.

hollywoodstang · Dec 2, 2008

It weighs 9lbs

Dino Dino Bambino · Dec 2, 2008

hollywoodstang said:
It weighs 9lbs

Crikey, I'm definitely taking mine off then and I can also remove the quad shocks while I'm there. I have MM rear LCA's so I don't need them anyway.
I've done some other weight reduction mods including a rear seat delete (60lb total for all mods so far) and I'm on the lookout for a pair of lightweight front seats (potentially another 50lb there).

hollywoodstang · Dec 2, 2008

Bullitt95 said:
Crikey, I'm definitely taking mine off then and I can also remove the quad shocks while I'm there. I have MM rear LCA's so I don't need them anyway.
I've done some other weight reduction mods including a rear seat delete (60lb total for all mods so far) and I'm on the lookout for a pair of lightweight front seats (potentially another 50lb there).

Yeah i took out lot of weight from the car for last couple of weeks. I already took out my factory seats and installed sport seats with fiberglass backing so that saved ton of weight. I am gonna take out the rear seats too since you said it weighs 60lbs. my trunk is already empty.

Dino Dino Bambino · Dec 2, 2008

The rear seat back, cushion, and headrest weigh a total of 43lb. My custom rear seat delete kit weighs 13lb so I saved 30lb with that mod. The rest of the 60lb weight saving was from other things.

Removing dog bone and Convertible weight?

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