JimsGT

I was looking on the forum, and a couple of people posted that in a gear install, you should use 3 qts of gear oil, and use the installation kit.

Well, my installer used 2 Royal Purple Max Gear 75/140 oil, and the Ford friction modifier. Also, in my bill, I did not see anything about using any gear installation kit (shims, etc) or did he mention using one.

Should he have used 3 qts? And what about not using an installation kit?

I'm concerned,(and almost a little pissed), it was done in June, I babied the car for 500 miles, and now its 3500 miles later. There has been no drivability issues, or whine since, but now at about 60 mph, on light decel or acceleration, I hear a slight howling noise.

Whaddya think? Ok to let it go as is?

(BTW went to FRPP 3.73's, I'm auto)

volcomchester18

I suggest you take it back and tell them to fill it up till it comes out the fill hole. And tell them you are getting gear noise, its their responsability to fix it, you should not hear any gear noises after the install unless they didnt install it right. With gears, you gotta be really precise with the shims or you get gear noise.

doctorstrobe

The Haynes manual lists the 8.8 capacity as 4.25 pints which equals 2.125 quarts.

I've heard the same kind of noise you describe. It's right around 60mph and goes away above and below that speed. I personally think this is driveline slop since it's only with a very light throttle...
The stock 2 piece driveshaft is very sloppy.
I've got a 1 piece aluminum one on order - I can't stand the stock one anymore.
I should also mention that the rear suspension has all poly / spherical rod end control arms so I hear absolutely every noise the driveline makes...

Update: Installed the 1 piece driveshaft. (Coast Driveline). It didn't change the very slight part-throttle noise I've heard at 60mph.
Note to anyone reading. Adding a 1 piece driveshaft probably will not solve any noise problems in the driveline. It will almost always make them worse. The stock 2 piece is pretty quiet. It has more of the klunky slop noise when shifting, etc but overall it's a lot quieter.

volcomchester18

^^ yeah tell me about it, the stock driveshaft is noisy. As far as the gears, well if it didnt do it stock, there is no reason it shoudl do it with gears.

BruceH

Learn it yourself. I'm done.

MustangGT0405

+1 every time I mod, I get super sensitive to noises. Probably all in my head.

An aftermarket gear wont be as quiet as stock, but there should be 0 whine.

157dB

Ford S197 8.8 Rear End
Disassembly and Reassembly Procedures
SPECIFICATIONS

You do the math...

On yet another note:
Seems to me that I read a TSB about filling the rear end all the way
up to the fill hole until it starts coming back out instead of the original
1" below the fill hole recommendation.

JimsGT

Thanks for the info, guys. Well I guess the 2 qts is okay, unless you have to go to the top.

My other question was the gear install kit with the shims, etc. if he didn't use one, he did pretty good then, considering theres just that slight howl, not even a whine, I know gear whine so its not that. I don't think its the driveshaft, and even after the install I didn't notice it, just lately, and it is slight, not annoying, and its only at or about 60 mph, on the gas or off. I can easily live with it if nothings being damaged.

But like I said, not using a gear install kit kinda baffles me...

moosestang

I wouldn't worry, unless it gets louder. It could be something unrelated to the gear install. Have you installed anything else since then?

They may have only charged you for 2 quarts, but put in a little more. If you're really concerned, then pull the fill plug at the front of the axle. If oil starts coming out, then you know it's plenty full.

157dB

Check the drive shaft flanges for signs of index marks that were suppost
to be made before disassembly. And then reassembled with the marks lining up.
If this was not done, all bets are off as to what the noises actually are coming from.

Not sure whats included in an 'install kit' but if each kit came
with all the available shims (see link above to workshop manual)
and then you only use one or two per side, there would be an
awful amount of them left over and after a few rear end jobs,
you could possably have quite an unused selection on your hands.
I wonder if he reused the crush sleeve on the pinion or used a
new one and properly set up the preload.