The U joints are the joints that connect your transmission to the differential. They are at both ends of your driveshaft. They require grease if they have grease zerks.

 

U better hope you dont need a rearend upgrade if you live in Ireland becuase shipping is going to be insane

 

You'll need an 8" rear from a V8 Stang. You can buy one new from a company like Currie Enterprises, but you may want to look at soem other Fords sitting in a bone yard and see if they have a larger rear. The 8" and 9" are characteristic by their removable 3rd members and don't have an inspection plate on the rear.

 

Take the cheap route first. Check the U joints, then check the rear wheel bearings. If those are good to go, then you will need to make sure your rear end is full of oil. If it is, then you will need to bite the bullet and replace the differential. Those three things are the only things that would cause rear end noise as you have described. Brake shoes dragging make a constant noise.

 

thanks all,

i guess I know hwat the u joints are. the name describes it pretty good.
how would you check them ? just lie under car and see if there's play ?
as in i shouldn't be able to move them around when standing ?

Kalli

 

pretty much

force the drive shaft back and forth / up and down by hand. As well as attempting to rotate it. if it moves at all then replace front and rear U joints.

Gun

 

Give the transmission fluid a check as well......I had a 3-speed in a '68 blow up on me once cause it was plumb dry and made one hell of a screaching sound when it was driven.

 

Hi all,

i did a few more checks today.
I checked on the U-Jouits. they seem to be fine. no play there.
but i was able to turn the driveshaft a bit (lets say 10 degrees). So the diff seems to have play.
is play in the diff normal or is that a killer ? I guess it's rather a bad sign.
To make matters worse i checked on the right rear.
I jacked the car and pulled of the brake drum.
There is a bit of metal abrassive that shouldn't be in there (not from breakpads). The pads are all fine.
So i guess it came off the bearing.

seems like bearings dead and diff dyding .... oh what a day. why me. i'm so good to that car ....

Can anyone point me in the direction on how to replace the bearings ? In the front you can pull them out as far as I know, but in the rear i couldn't even see them.

Still don't know what the screeching sound was (so what exactly is going to fall off the car next).... bummer.
Couldn't check flyuid levels as in lack of proper tools. getting them next week to see. car back in garage :-(

kalli

 

Some play in the diff is common if you rotated the driveshaft and the play came from the rear end that’s okay so long as the u joints themselves didn’t have any play about their couplings. Your diff is probably okay.

I have never changed the rear wheel bearings but I think it is pretty simple (pull the axel out then the bearing) But I dont know the details or things to watch out for. Scott or someone should have more detailed instructions for you.

Good luck

Gun

 

Don't drive that car another inch until you get those rear wheel bearings replaced.
Here is a detailed description of how to do it.
http://www.mustangsplus.com/tech/bearings/rearbear.html