Took my Aero over to the tranny shop yesterday, it had been making growling noises in the rear, so I needed to get it looked at.

Called him up today, and it turns out the rear is shot. Messed up axle shaft, broken gear pieces in the diff, not a pretty story. Way too much to repair, so I did some calling and found an axle assembly out of a 95 (mine is a 96). I'll do that, just to get it back on the road.

This took me by surprise, since it gave me little warning at all. I thought I heard it growling faintly last week, but it was too subtle to tell. It was quite loud yesterday so I took it in as soon as I noticed it.

Has anyone else had any major probs with these rear ends? I have 108k on it, and it's been trouble free thus far. I had the axle seals replaced a couple of years ago, and we put fresh lube in it then, no probs since until now.

I think the 7.5 rear is a little wimpy for this vehicle, but it works OK. Will the 8.8 w/10 inch brakes swap directly in? Any input anyone cares to share?

 

a 8.8 will bolt right in place of a 7.5 an 10 in brakes can be had with both rear ends
good luck
mark

 

Well, got the rear axle assembly from the boneyard, almost done with it as we speak. 7.5 inch, 3.73 rear, non trac-loc, plain Jane diff from a 95. It's all nice and tight, no slop, and no axle shaft end play.

Not sure how much difference I'll notice without limited slip, but I suspect my old diff may not have been working right in that regard, since it spun one tire a lot in the snow. It's not really that big a deal for me, anyway, I learned to drive way back when, in non-posi RWD cars, in Detroit winters.

I'll just be glad to have it back on the road. These are great vans, hate to be without mine.

 

hope u got a good price on that rear end ? if u really wanted to u could take out your old traction loc an put new clutches in it an put it in your new rear end . if not maybe put it up forsale im sure some 1 might like 1 for the 7.5
mark

 

The sad thing is here very few people change their diff lube as often as they should maybe if more people did this disaster could have been avoided.

But then again high mileage and old age can do this too but you never know if that cheap bottle of diff oil could have saved money in the long run.

I change mine every 2 years since the vehicle doesn't get that much use.

 

I got a decent price on the whole axle assembly. 150 plus 25 core. delivered. The whole thing, with labor, cost me 450. I'm happy with that. We re-used my brake backing plates, and all the brake hardware, since the brakes were replaced not too long ago. Replacement rear is tight, no noise, works fine. And I got it back on the road in less than a week. Works for me. I didn't have to try it outside in the cold, laying on my back.

It would have taken way too much money to repair the old one. Chipped pinion gear, chips in almost every gear there, worn out clutch pack, just general mayhem and destruction. And once we started to take it apart, I'm sure we would have found more wrong with it. I'm still amazed it only just started making noise.

Yeah, I hear you on the rear end lube changes. It was changed a couple of years ago, when we replaced axle seals, probably should have done it more often. I'm still of the opinion the 7.5 is wimpy for this vehicle, but 110k is probably not a bad lifespan, from what I've read about the nightmares some folks have had with Ford truck rear ends in general. This 7.5 was easy to get on short notice, and it was convenient.

If that wasn't bad enough, my Eagle's transfer case tossed guts the same day, leaving me with one vehicle. Thank God the Fairmont is one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned. Already have another tcase, have it back in next week.