WTF!!!!!Broke my rear axle!

ddt4436 · Feb 18, 2009

Today my friend went and pulled my 91 gt home I just bought the other day. Runs perfect but I work all the time and so he pulled it home with his trailer. Anyway he backs it off the trailer, revs it up and launches!.....Waabaam.....chuncks fly from the car everywhere! WTF! WTF! WTF! broke the u joint, axle hits the ground, and upon further inspection......THE REAR AXLE IS BROKE...the part where the wheel axle is exiting the gear housing about 6 inches out. IT is split as if someone sawed it perfectly in half without cutting the wheel axle. He promised to buy another this week and we could put it back together this weekend. How hard is it to replace a REAR AXLE!!!WTF...sorry guys I lost it just thinking about it. Oh yeah and it had 4.10's in the rear....w...t....f.

BlownFiveLiter · Feb 18, 2009

It's not uncommon to break a stock axle with some sticky tires. Even with some street tires, it's still possible to break them, if they've suffered some abuse over the years. Be happy it happened in a situation where the car was already being trailered, versus driving it somewhere away from home. I had a buddy break one at the track, about 30 or 40 miles from home. He had to get a trailer and come back before they had it towed.

Shakerhood · Feb 18, 2009

Are you talking about just simply snapping an axle shaft or are we somehow talking about the housing breaking?

claytucc3 · Feb 18, 2009

Is the housing broken or is it just the axle. I know that here in LA on craigslit there are many axles that are avail. In fact I was just looking at one from a 93 Cobra with disk brakes for $300...

Maryland Stang · Feb 18, 2009

I think he's talking about the driveshaft. It's hard to tell. Maybe he's talking about the rearend housing. ?????? Broken U Joints??????

If you broke the housing then you're going to need some serious tools. You'll need to swap the carrier and pinion out of your old housing if you want to maintain the 4.10 gears. You can't just take them out of one housing and put them into another. They must be setup using precision measuring tools. Torque wrenches and dial indicators..... Stuff like that.

claytucc3 · Feb 18, 2009

Maryland, i think that you are correct. It sounds like he is talking about the drive shaft and possibly the yoke. Maybe take some pictures for us bro and we can better help you out.

bubba-dough · Feb 18, 2009

Yeah we need some clarification here. Is it the driveshaft, u-joint, axle housing, or axle shafts themselves, your upset and a little all over the place. I kinda think you mean axle shaft by the way you mention its by the wheel. That would be a very easy fix. Also you will need to change the axle bearings & seals as well. Stock axles become worn over time and break, so don't be too upset or discouraged. I would not put stock ones back in though. You can get Moser or Superior axles, axle bearings & seals for around $300.

Mustang5L5 · Feb 18, 2009

It sounds to me like he busted the housing.

I wouldn't suspect 1 hard launch would do that. It might have been broken or at least on it's way out before then. Your buddy just happened to be the one at the wheel when it decided to let go. That could have easily been you.

I gotta see pics of this though. What sort of mods does the car have to snap the housing?

bubba-dough · Feb 18, 2009

Yeah I just re-read the original post and it does sound like its the housing. Swapping housings isn't a bad job at all, HOWEVER, you will have to have the gear set-up "reset-up" for the new housing like mention previously.
BTW WE NEED PICS

parrish5o · Feb 18, 2009

It's really one of those "crap how much is that going to cost sounds" when you break an axle. Sounds alot worse than it actualy is though. I snapped mine the first time I went to the track with slicks and nitrous.

ddt4436 · Feb 18, 2009

Sorry for the confusion guys but yeah it's the actual rear end housing cracked about six inches from where the gears sit. You can actually see the wheel axle through the housing. I need a complete rear end. I will get pics as soon as I can to show it better. Will the ford explorer rear axles work. What's the best ford to get a rear from? How hard is it to do? Thanks for responding so fast. Thank you all......Now that I can think it was better to happen at home than on the road.

Mustang5L5 · Feb 18, 2009

No explorer rear axles will not work.

The housing from any 86-98 Mustang will work. 94-98 have 5-lug and disk brakes

ddt4436 · Feb 18, 2009

Ok thanks alot.

bubba-dough · Feb 18, 2009

You prolly know but make sure it is an 8.8 rear from a V8 not a 7.5 and iirc the 94-98 are a tad bit wider but will work fine. I also think that the turbocoupes have 8.8 as well (not sure though). Now would be the time for rear disc and 5-lug conversion.

Where do you live? I have my old rear still.

parrish5o · Feb 18, 2009

+1 on the rear disc and 5 lug conversion. The stock drums are just not up to par with a moded Mustang and the 5 lug will give you alot more options for wheels.

ddt4436 · Feb 18, 2009

I'm in Tallahassee Fla.

anotherstangfan · Feb 18, 2009

HAHAHAHA! I love when things break, its sucks.

ddt4436 · Feb 18, 2009

anotherstangfan said:
HAHAHAHA! I love when things break, its sucks.

LOL. Yeah it really does, but now it's kinda funny...jus my luck.

66sprint6 · Feb 18, 2009

ddt4436 said:
LOL. Yeah it really does, but now it's kinda funny...jus my luck.

Dont let it get you down man, look at is as a way to a) improve and b) learn. I learned everything I know from breaking stuff and most of my mods came from replacing worn or busted parts!
Matt

ddt4436 · Feb 18, 2009

Thanks Matt.

WTF!!!!!Broke my rear axle!

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