355 rear broke AGAIN!
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 128
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From: San Antonio TX
355 rear broke AGAIN!
My wife bought me a 1996 Bronco XLT dec 2001, 351W, light bar 33 12.50 thornbirds, grill guard, cb stereo, and all other goodies. With 86868 miles on it with two year extended warranty. April 2002 The rear end went out, warranty company said they would replace withlike used rear axle rebuilt and under one year warranty from dealer. It is now july 2003 and the rear end has gone out again. Again warranty company say they will repair it, but gave me third degree on how I've used it in the last year. Ultimatley it has been road driven for the last year rarely even going off any paved road. Is it common for fullsize broncos to burn up rear ends and if so why if not then what on earth could be causing it to happen? Oh by the way it now has 100508 miles on it and had only 91,000 miles on it when the original rear end went out. Any Ideas much apprciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Texas
355 rear broke AGAIN!
correct me if im wrong, but I think the rearend oil is supposed to be changed every 80,000 miles.
Of coarse I havent changed rearend oil in, can't remember ever changing it on my 83 either. Never had propblems and I had my 83's axles under mud and water too many times to count, I may be just lucky.
Of coarse I havent changed rearend oil in, can't remember ever changing it on my 83 either. Never had propblems and I had my 83's axles under mud and water too many times to count, I may be just lucky.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 256
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From: Central Iowa
355 rear broke AGAIN!
Not only have I never changed the oil in my rear diff, I have driven in water and mud washing over the hood and am still running 3.55 gears with 35" tires. Not recommended but I figure I will get bigger when I can afford it. No harm done. I have read that diff oil should be changed every 60k+. Every 3k sounds excessive. Just my .02.
KJ
KJ
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 877
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From: Colorado, U.S.A!
355 rear broke AGAIN!
Hey, Jammer, was it making any noise before it went out? Those rears should last a looooong time with normal use. If not, probably the gears weren't set up correctly.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
355 rear broke AGAIN!
i didnt mean every oil change but just needs attention like your motor does. the rear end is easily forgoten about it seems. and if you have been wheelin in mud, or water its a good idea to go through that stuff every so often.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
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355 rear broke AGAIN!
According to Ford, "the lube should be replaced in all rear axles at 100,000 mile intervals, or if the rear axle has been submerged in water, or more often under certain extreme conditions".
I replaced mine, and used Mobil 1 just for extra measure. I now have 153k on the clock, and the original rear axle is still running great!
I replaced mine, and used Mobil 1 just for extra measure. I now have 153k on the clock, and the original rear axle is still running great!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
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From: Vancouver WA
355 rear broke AGAIN!
Explain what's happening to the axles. What's "going out"?
I had an '85 Bronco with over 190K miles on the (I assume) original rear end. My '95 F-150 has about 119K. No problems with either one, including the limited slip functionality in both.
I had an '85 Bronco with over 190K miles on the (I assume) original rear end. My '95 F-150 has about 119K. No problems with either one, including the limited slip functionality in both.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 128
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From: San Antonio TX
355 rear broke AGAIN!
I got no warning sounds that i could hear over the roar of the engine or tires and no performance changes just went out. The carrier is completely split in two just like last time. Last time there was a noise before it went out and just so fluid change is not any more of a dispute here, it has been changed after every off-road expedition and every five thousand miles otherwise.
I do appreciate all the comments but even the ford dealer is in complete awe over this one. One thing I can deffinetly say is I've never seen or owned a vehicle that can perform like this one but if I keep having problems I'm going to have to sell it.
I do appreciate all the comments but even the ford dealer is in complete awe over this one. One thing I can deffinetly say is I've never seen or owned a vehicle that can perform like this one but if I keep having problems I'm going to have to sell it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
355 rear broke AGAIN!
well it looks like you have found the weak link in your rig. so I would replace gears with a set of 4.10's or higher and upgrade to some larger axles and while your in there might as well get a locker either detroit or arb.
later
later
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 67
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355 rear broke AGAIN!
I recently blew my 3.55 posi rear end as well. Totalled the posi, ring, pinion, spiders, etc. It was definitely a mess! However, my failure started just as your did....with a cracked carrier. Once that broke loose, it was all over.
After I pulled it apart, I looked at the cracks and could see that they had been there for quite some time. It was a costly failure but hey....it lasted 190,000 miles before failing. And with my lead foot, that says a lot for Ford.
After I pulled it apart, I looked at the cracks and could see that they had been there for quite some time. It was a costly failure but hey....it lasted 190,000 miles before failing. And with my lead foot, that says a lot for Ford.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 355
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From: Oregon
355 rear broke AGAIN!
You said "warranty company". I'm assuming one of those "warranties" sold by used-car dealers. They're actually underwritten by fly-by-night insurance companies and will only repair your rig as cheaply as they possibly can. And they have a fairly liberal interpretation of the word "repair".
When I was a machinist I had a "warranty repair station" bring in a 2.5l GM that had grenaded a piston and scored a cylinder. I told the guy the block needed to be bored, and he was gonna need a new set of pistons, rings, etc etc.
He told me to just bore the one hole and get him one piston and a single set of rings.
I thought I was hallucinating until he repeated himself and said that was all the warranty company would authorize. :-staun
I told him he'd better find somebody else to do the work, since we don't operate like that, and I can't let an engine out of the shop that is going to have a problem. He understood, and took the block somewhere else. I feel sorry for the poor guy/girl who owned that car.
When I was a machinist I had a "warranty repair station" bring in a 2.5l GM that had grenaded a piston and scored a cylinder. I told the guy the block needed to be bored, and he was gonna need a new set of pistons, rings, etc etc.
He told me to just bore the one hole and get him one piston and a single set of rings.
I thought I was hallucinating until he repeated himself and said that was all the warranty company would authorize. :-staun
I told him he'd better find somebody else to do the work, since we don't operate like that, and I can't let an engine out of the shop that is going to have a problem. He understood, and took the block somewhere else. I feel sorry for the poor guy/girl who owned that car.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 128
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From: San Antonio TX
355 rear broke AGAIN!
After reading so many diffent posts and other troubles that are similar to all of mine. I found that 4 of my 6 shocks needed replacing and several bushings and u joints and misc. other parts that now my vehicle is runnings perfect. I appreciate all the input and to any one else that has similar trouble READ the other posts it will save you a lot of money. the dealer had no solutions to my problems but other bronco owners did. This is the best forum I have ever found and will continue to use it for the rest of my bronco's life. Thanks again to everyone invovled including those who just posted other possible solutions.