How many if any of you have had to change your front half shafts? Im at 54k miles and roughly 75 track passes. The other morning I heard one loud clunk while backing out of driveway. I ignored it until today when under medium to hard acceleration I hard 2/3 more clunks under my feet. So Im wondering how many of you have joined my club?
Out of curiosity
- Thread starter shoNoff
- Start date
shoNoff said:
I have felt something similar but that was a little over 2 years ago and roughly 16,000 miles ago. It happened under very slow speeds, a really slow 3,2 downshift and light thud. Not under acceleration. I never checked my trans fluid yet at that point. This was less than a year of ownership and I wasnt tuned yet. Checked it and it was low. I just simply added fluid and it went away. Not sure that helps.
It sounds like you have much wheel play in the area in question!
Both Front Half-shafts and Hubs (wheel bearings) changed roughly @ 60K along with the newer updated version metal Thrust washers. Need to make certain to apply grease liberally around the Spline in conjunction with the Thrust washers.
The previous version were made from plastic/vinyl which equaled crap as pictured below....
I would also try to rule out the Strut mount Bearings. Z
Both Front Half-shafts and Hubs (wheel bearings) changed roughly @ 60K along with the newer updated version metal Thrust washers. Need to make certain to apply grease liberally around the Spline in conjunction with the Thrust washers.
The previous version were made from plastic/vinyl which equaled crap as pictured below....
I would also try to rule out the Strut mount Bearings. Z
New updated Metal Thrust washers
Vinyl Plastic thrust washers
Z did you change them because of an issue? Or just being meticulous? I don’t believe it’s a strut bearing just doesn’t sound like it. I changed both front rear control arm bushings roughly 3 months ago as well. Also I can feel it at my feet. I subjected my car to some heavy wheel hop towards the end of the year trying for that 12.4 or better. Stuff I would normally not drive through lol.
802 I checked the fluid roughly 2 weeks ago to add a 1/4 quart.
802 I checked the fluid roughly 2 weeks ago to add a 1/4 quart.
Z Thanks for the great photos too. I just got to get off my lazy rear and buy another daily. I have h&r’s and new motorcraft shocks and struts to go in, I may as well buy strut mounts. Think just for my own piece of mind I may order axles from ford and replace them too. There is clearly some issue going on if I have clunking. I suppose I could try to bring it to dealer. It is still under cpo warranty but I bet I get crap for the downpipes.
bpd1151
Active member
I'm glad to see others are also taking proactive steps in removing their/our beloved SHO's from DD use/duties.shoNoff said:
Not that these cars mind you are worth anything of significant value. However, the ability to keep these cars in our stables long term, and enjoy driving them for years to come.......
Now that's F'n PRICELESS!
Great job fellas. Maybe more will follow suit.
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bpd1151 said:
Repeated discussion. It all comes down to the owner and how he gets the most enjoyment out of the car. Myself, I look forward to every time I start it up. Sun or rain doesn’t matter. I even look forward to snow and my sho being unstoppable, safely leaving every other vehicle behind with confidence. I’ve had too many cars in the past that spent too much time parked in the garage and later I ended up regretting it.
Im a firm believer in cars are built to be driven not garage queens. But like bpd said Id like to keep the useless miles off the SHO. Not that I think its a Shelby cobra or anything. But I drive roughly 18k miles a year. If I can cut that in half on the SHO it will prolong the time me and SHOMO have together. Plus with a second car I can also take my time doing projects and upgrades on the SHO. I don't have to have it ready every day to drive.
shoNoff said:
Very true. Nothing wrong with daily stuff if that's what you want to do but the perks of not having to drive it if you don't want to...especially when doing some mods at home is very nice. And lets say you detailed it....next day its raining or snowing and you need to go to the store...sucks to have to get it all dirty so soon just for a trip close by. All of that stuff is elimimated when you can keep it garaged if need be. Plus these cars will no longer be in production soon. Automatically turns them all into gems.....id like mine to stay in really nice shape.
bpd1151 said:That's a great way of looking at it too jim.
Fun trips in all weather.
But reserve it for those fun trips exclusively and put all the (unnecessary) miles on something else....
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Everybody’s case is different. So my answer if I were you, Mike, would be totally different. Show cars need different care than DD’s. But even though my 15 has 50k on it now, it still doesn’t even have the first chip or door ding. The results are seen in my physical fitness from walking a quarter mile across the walmart lot to park away from the crowds. I don’t track mine but I get pure joy at a little stop light gran prix. And it kills me when I see opportunities and I don’t have my sho with me. So I enjoy every mile I put on this car, even in unfavorable weather.