Drivetrain Can You Identify This?

[Detroiit]

Hey guys I bought a mustang and know little about it. I was told it had a lot of work done to it but I just have no clue if the seller was truthful or what. I was told that the axle's were upgraded. I pulled the center cap off the rim and took a pic. Has anyone seen this axle before? Does it look familiar to someone? Is it stock or has it been upgraded? any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ken

 

[tonydalrymple]

Most aftermarket axles come with a custom "cap" stating whom the manufacturer is. This is mainly due to people like myself whom often drag race & the tech needs to know if you have aftermarket axles or not. I can tell you that the axles are not made by any aftermarket manufacturer like Moser, Tom's Kick Ass Axles, etc. The only chance you have is that Ford once offered a 31-spline rear differential\axle assembly for many years in the past. The only way to know is to pull an axle & count the teeth. Actual purchase receipts from Ford cannot be believed from personal experience.... I bought a car with the receipts for many Ford O.E. parts. The frame connectors, disc brake conversion(MK2000 kit), & 31-spline heavy duty rear diff\axle assembly were included. Everything was true but the rear diff was actually the FRPP standard 28-spline 3.55 geared rear diff replacement assembly..... Even though the guy had paid for & had a receipt for the heavy duty 3.55 geared 31-splined axle rear diff assembly.... I found out the hard way. Rev'd the engine on the 1\4 mile track line, let off the brake & BOOM! Snapped axle.....

 

[2000xp8]

They are 5 lug, so you know they aren't original. If you don't slap sticky tires on there and goto the track and the rear currently spins both tires, I wouldn't worry to much about it.

 

[Detroiit]

I am putting som some drag radials on and will be going to the track. both tires do spin when getting on it. And on occasion it will chirp when doing a u turn.

 

[Mustang5L5]

How'd you get the center cap off the rim without taking the wheel off? If those are the rims i think they are, that's hard to do. Those caps are designed to have them tapped out from the rear after taking the rim off.

The axle is new, but hard to say if aftermarket or not. If i had to guess, i'd say it's a stock ford 5-lug axle looking back at me.

If this is a stockish car, i'd say it is an OEM axle, however if it had some serious mods, i might investigate further. Need to see the rest of the car really

 

[Detroiit]

How'd you get the center cap off the rim without taking the wheel off? If those are the rims i think they are, that's hard to do. Those caps are designed to have them tapped out from the rear after taking the rim off.

The axle is new, but hard to say if aftermarket or not. If i had to guess, i'd say it's a stock ford 5-lug axle looking back at me.

If this is a stockish car, i'd say it is an OEM axle, however if it had some serious mods, i might investigate further. Need to see the rest of the car really

I popped the cap out with a screwdriver(the wheels probably should of been removed). They are the 99ish cobra wheels or 01ish premium or deluxe option. The car has 461 rwhp and 452 tq so not sure if thats considered "serious mods" but the previous owner definitely did some work. I put a vortech v3 si kit on and had it professionally tuned .

 

[Mustang5L5]

Ok then yes...i'd probably pull the wheel and rotor and see if there are any identifying marks on the axle flange.

An OEM Ford axle WILL have a Ford oval on it...somewhere. I just cant recall where.

Hate to say it but those do look like OEM Ford SN95 axles though. What brakes are on the car?

 

[Detroiit]

Ok then yes...i'd probably pull the wheel and rotor and see if there are any identifying marks on the axle flange.

An OEM Ford axle WILL have a Ford oval on it...somewhere. I just cant recall where.

Hate to say it but those do look like OEM Ford SN95 axles though. What brakes are on the car?

I snapped some pics of the front brakes. I was told cobra brakes but again .. Who knows!


And a pic of my engine bay

 

[Detroiit]

Here is a couple of the car

 

[2000xp8]

I think you adding the supercharger suggests it's more serious than the NA engine it was before you. The rear being built up by the previous owner could be subjective, if the traction lock was done (which I assume it was since it works), that could be "built".
I still wouldn't go too nuts trying to figure it out. If you can see all the markings when you pull the wheel off, great, but I wouldn't open the rear to check.
You'll figure it out when you break it, which very well could be never.

Those fronts are pbr cobra/bullit/mach1 brakes probably with 94+ spindles.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Front brakes are Cobra 13" brakes, but the rear look like drums. Can't really see well. If they are drums, then they are fox-lenght 5-lug axles. Still doesn't confirm if they are OEM or not.

What's the trans? A t-5?

 

[Detroiit]

Front brakes are Cobra 13" brakes, but the rear look like drums. Can't really see well. If they are drums, then they are fox-lenght 5-lug axles. Still doesn't confirm if they are OEM or not.

What's the trans? A t-5?

They are drums in the rear. I was told a Tremec trans by the last owner he said he broke 3 stock t5s so he got a tremec. But who knows. Maybe this spring i will confirm some things.

 

[Detroiit]

I think you adding the supercharger suggests it's more serious than the NA engine it was before you. The rear being built up by the previous owner could be subjective, if the traction lock was done (which I assume it was since it works), that could be "built".
I still wouldn't go too nuts trying to figure it out. If you can see all the markings when you pull the wheel off, great, but I wouldn't open the rear to check.
You'll figure it out when you break it, which very well could be never.

Those fronts are pbr cobra/bullit/mach1 brakes probably with 94+ spindles.

Stupid question but what is PBR stand for? And what do I tell the guy at the auto parts store when buying new pads?

 

[2000xp8]

PBR is just the brand, pads for a 99-04 cobra, mach1 and bullitt. Probably a 94/95 cobra too.
They were all the same for quite a while. It's a nice little upgrade.

How does the brake pedal feel? I wasn't aware there was a master cylinder that would work with drums in the rear and those front brakes. I also wasn't aware you could use an adjustable proportioning valve with rear drums. Both things I could be wrong on, just never seen it done.

Regardless, put rear disc conversion on the to do list. That's when you will see the axles.

 

[Detroiit]

PBR is just the brand, pads for a 99-04 cobra, mach1 and bullitt. Probably a 94/95 cobra too.
They were all the same for quite a while. It's a nice little upgrade.

How does the brake pedal feel? I wasn't aware there was a master cylinder that would work with drums in the rear and those front brakes. I also wasn't aware you could use an adjustable proportioning valve with rear drums. Both things I could be wrong on, just never seen it done.

Regardless, put rear disc conversion on the to do list. That's when you will see the axles.

This car stops better than most new cars I drive.. lol well maybe not but u get the point. It definitely has stopping power.

 

[Detroiit]

This car stops better than most new cars I drive.. lol well maybe not but u get the point. It definitely has stopping power.

the emergency brake still works to. If that matters.

 

[Mustang5L5]

PBR is an Australian brake manufacturer that makes many OEM brake systems for manufacturers.

If you run the stock cobra front setup, the stock mC will operate it. The caliper piston surface area is actually pretty close to th oem caliper specs.

 

[RangerJoe]

I would guess they are ranger axles.

Joe