99 GT rear axle noise

[Cobol]

Hi Everyone,

Newbie here with a few questions...

My 1999 Mustang GT with 47k miles, the rear axle has started to give out a high pitched whine from 20mph on up. Sounds like a real light metal to metal rubbing.

The dealerships around here (tampa florida) want $350 to tear apart the axle for an inspection and then if it needs a full rebuild they want another $2000 to $2300 for a rebuild and about $100 less for a new axle install (The new axle costing around $1600 the rest labor.)

Is this a normal to have to rebuild the rear axle every 50k miles or so?

Is that a normal price for rear axle replace/rebuild?
(My mustang experience is only with older stangs where you could buy a new axle for around $700-800).

Is there any one in the Tampa or Central florida area who you would recommend to bring my mustang for this repair?

Thank you ahead of time for your help.


I would just buy the axle myself and put it in but I dont own any tools or have a garage anymore. I've swapped axles in a 66, a 73, and an 86 stang before so I dont think im a complete moron.
Just seems like a bit much for an axle replacement and seems like it shouldnt need a full rebuild every 50k miles on a stock GT.

[Jeff Chambers]

Call FordSpeed Racing over in Largo and talk with Joe. A complete tear-down and rebuild shouldn't cost you more than $350 unless you need to replace the gear set or differential and then it'd only be about $150 more. I don't know what dealership you're going to, but they're trying to rip you off. Most likely, you've just got a bearing going bad and need to replace only the bearings, not the entire axle assembly. Even if the entire axle needs replaced (not likely), you can buy a complete new rear (minus brakes & axles) for about $900 and put it in yourself in a day's time. For a noise such as you describe, I'd only charge a customer $175 to $225 for labor + hard parts. I'd find another dealership.

[Cobol]

Jeff,

Thank you.

I talked with Fordspeed racing today. Cost of the labor to tear it down and put it back together again was quoted as $225. Even replacing every bearing he said it would come under $400.

That is soooooooo much better than the $2300 the dealership wanted.

Thank you again.

[98gtman]

I had that happen to a gmc van that i have its sounds like a carrage bearing od maybe your shaft input bearing and for the dealer you are diff. getting robbed never go to the dealer always a rip off they go by a book on pricing call another dealer and see what there want for the job.

[Cobol]

I did call several dealerships in the tampa bay area and all of them quoted a prices within 10% of each other.

Sucks that I just bought this mustang and the dealership refused to give any warranty. (Big warning sign but the price was right.)

I appreciate your input and Jeffs. Work is sending me all over the place the next 2 weeks (Lodi OH to Erie PA to some little town in NJ) but as soon as I get back I'm bringing the car in to Joe at FordSpeed Racing.

Now that I know the rear axle wont cost me an arm and leg I can look forward to spending my christmas bonus on other things for the mustang. (hmmm subframe connectors and bigger brakes. Maybe!)

[kbeistel]

I also have a 99 GT. I believe the differential is shot. There is oil everywhere and a horrible whirring noice (starts at about 35mph, goes quiet around 80mph). I live in Napa, Ca., anybody have an idea of how much this may cost me to get it repaired and any suggestions on where to have it done?