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Topic: '88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops" (Read 2048 times) previous topic - next topic

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Can someone speculate as what would break in the following cirspoogestance?

I was changing out an axle shaft in my '88 Cougar ( 8.8 ) and when I took the tiny bolt out of the pinion shaft, I rotated the tires and thought the differential siezed.

So I started the car and gave it a little gas to  break it loose.

I didn't hear anything break loose, so I turned off th car and went to inspect my clever plan.  The pinion shaft had wedged against the bottom of the housing.

So what broke?  Did the transmission just absorb the punishment with it's magic vacuum and fluid stuff? I didn't notice the drive shaft was twisted in half or anything.  Seems like something would have broken, with the differential not moving and me revving the engine.

Also, how am I supposed to get the C-clips out around the S-spring?  I've done all of this before, but I think I must have held my mouth open while laying under a leaking radiator too many times.  I remember doing it, just not how I did it.

Thanks,

Squid

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #1 –
You took the little bolt out of the center pin,that you should of pulled out.That lets you push the axles in to get the c-clamps off the axles.I think when you turned the tires the pin came out and jammed up.If thats what happened I could only imagine what might of broke when you gave it the gas.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #2 –
Quote from: kitzdnm;131434
If thats what happened I could only imagine what might of broke when you gave it the gas.

I guess I'll find out whenever I get the axles back in.

The axles push in, and I can see the C-clips.  I can't seem to make them move with the s-spring in the way.  I think I had a memory of pushing them off and letting them fall with a long screw driver. I was trying to grab them with needle nose pliers last night. 

Squid

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #3 –
Try a magnet?
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #4 –
Dude you should not be working on a car!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh the carnage.

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #5 –
Why would you do that? WTF?

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Squid;131432
So I started the car and gave it a little gas to  break it loose.


WOW. That's just asking for a "whoops", not a very clever plan there.
GT40p 5.0 w/ vortech @ 9.5psi, 400rwhp

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #7 –
With my car, i had to beat the axle inward with a hammer once or twice.
It's Gumby's fault.

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #8 –
Quote from: dominator;131479
Dude you should not be working on a car!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh the carnage.

Carnage, probably yes, but that's no way to greet a new-ish member.

Quote from: 84 Fila;131481
Why would you do that? WTF?

C'mon, take it easy.  We've ALL made dumb mistakes before.  I can't say that I might not've tried something like that.  Maybe not with parts of the diff unbolted, but still.

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #9 –
Your right, I've done some pretty un-thought out things too. But isn't there a "right" way to do this kinda thing?

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #10 –
Quote from: 84 Fila;131517
Your right, I've done some pretty un-thought out things too. But isn't there a "right" way to do this kinda thing?

Yeah, the 'right' way probably would've involved investigating what was keeping the axle from turning.

Squid, as I understand it, the pinion shaft slid partway out and is now jammed against the inside of the housing?

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #11 –
Pics might help Squid. I'm trying to learn here so even for me, can you try to grab a few if you can?

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #12 –
Sorry man but i stand by what i said.
I am a licensed tech and some of the things i see people who try to save a buck do to their cars is rediculus.
If you don't know what your doing you can seriously injure yourself or others who drive around you.
Say this newbie puts his diff back together with broken parts or with loose parts and takes it out on the road and an axle comes loose or the diff locks up,he could kill someone.
I'm not trying to be a prick,and ask most people around here(i'm here to lend a hand)but if you don't know what your doing take it to someone who does.

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #13 –
Quote from: dominator;131528
Sorry man but i stand by what i said.
I am a licensed tech and some of the things i see people who try to save a buck do to their cars is rediculus.
If you don't know what your doing you can seriously injure yourself or others who drive around you.
Say this newbie puts his diff back together with broken parts or with loose parts and takes it out on the road and an axle comes loose or the diff locks up,he could kill someone.
I'm not trying to be a prick,and ask most people around here(i'm here to lend a hand)but if you don't know what your doing take it to someone who does.

You've gotta very good point.  That's why I don't touch the inside of my rear diff.  It was scary enough when my 7.5" grenaded at 70mph.

'88 Cougar 8.8 Rear end and a "whoops"

Reply #14 –
I agree with dominator tearing into a diff is not the place for a newbie to learn. 

You probably didn't damage anything besides burning the bands in the tranny a bit, but you will do damage if you reinstall those parts wrong.