Sly's Panthers

[1987cp]

yeah they don't survive well when the dino juice runs out.

Reminds me, I've got to check all my diff lube levels when I get a chance. I'm thinking it'll be lots easy to dump lube in there if I use a hose so I can lift the bottle clear of the mufflers?

Should probably also find out what weight is recommended ... partial bottles I had laying around included one of 80W90 and one of 85W120.

[sly]

seems this bearing ate itself well before the oil leaked though. I've been wondering which wheel was grinding for about 2 months now. FOUND IT!

[gadget73]

yeah they don't survive well when the dino juice runs out.

[sly]

just went and got the Mark. drives better... doesn't sound like I hit the washboard at the edge of the road when slowing from over 65mph now. I'll need to get gas tomorrow though. it's about on E.

[sly]

the axle vent was clean... ish. pretty much the bearing and/or axle crapped and when I curb checked the right rear under load, it managed to push the bearing and seal enough to leak the life blood out of the axle. Then I drove another 100 miles on it. oh well. it's done, I'm 3 bills lighter and I'll be getting the car tonight after rush hour lets up a bit.

[sly]

if the area that the bearing runs on has any scoring or pits, or if the axle is not straight or the splines are ground off... it's trash. If it's smooth at the bearing locations, straight and true, and the splines are good, you're golden.

[packman]

I hate to threadjack, but how does one tell when the axle has seen better days? Both axles I pulled from the donor rear are black in the middle (powdercoated?) and shiney on the ends. I don't see any lines like you would on a bad main bearing. Is that the way to tell the condition of an axle?



Packman

[Lincolnmania]

need i remind everyone again the results of a failed axle?

[1987cp]

On my '79, I reused my pitted axles Slydawg said were shot. Not recommending it, just saying. Got all smooth and quiet with new bearings, though.

[gadget73]

kinda figured that. tis the way the 8.5/8.8 fails.

[sly]

odd. both of my boxes have set screws on the headlight knobs.

just double checked the premium sound knob... yup... spring clip.

update on the Mark: needs an axle. pitted and the bearing is shot. pushed the bearing out and shoved the seal free. $300

bah.

[gadget73]

thats what I thought. I'm missing the second non-moving knob then. Its not actually hooked to anything in my car. It never had that system anyway. Its only there to fill the hole in. I may later remove it and put in a 3.5mm headphone socket or something which would actually be more useful. Then I have to figure out what to do with the remote mirror hole. Don't have that on my car either, twin power mirrors.


BTW, my headlight knob definitely does not have a set screw. Had it out over the weekend. The premium sound knob has a spring clip that releases it, NFC what the headlight knob uses. Appears to be glued but I can't confirm that.

[sly]

it has a screw down second knob that works as the nut on the trim side. Other nuts should be on the other side to support the premium sound switch. Then the normal knob to pull the switch out.

I tossed mine out since all the factory stuff was screwed up in some way or another and only kept the knob with the set screw in it that fits the headlight rods in the boxes. There should also be an insert and such that's part of the radio tray.

I'll check that vent when I pick up the car.

Update on the Mark: The bearing seems to have pushed out the seal. They've not yet had a chance to get it on a lift yet, so they'll know more tomorrow once they get it up in the air and pull the axle out. need to see if it's a defective bearing or the axle shaft has an issue.

[gadget73]

oh, hey, you have a mark VI. Is there a bezel or some sort of insert behind the premium sound knob? I put mine in over the weekend, and it just seems like there ought to be something else in there. I can see the nut on the switch that holds it to the dash frame. Seems to me that ought not be visible but I'm not totally sure. I'm thinking it should have a trim ring like the headlight knob has.


oh and make sure the axle tube vent isn't clogged up. They often get gloobered up with dirt and oil sludge over the years. Its the thimble looking thing sticking out of the axle tube, think its on the driver's side.

[sly]

nope... axles were fine last time and they just used new bearings and seals. Looks like it just popped a seal since I drove it around 100 miles on that with zero vibration. I'm thinking the extreme heat down here might have expanded the fluid a bit much since it was a rather cool november when it was fixed last. It's all under warranty though... so I'm not out of pocket anything.