Recently purchased a new 05/06 Transaxle from Ford. I guess I'm not terribly surprised that no one has gone back through the inventory at Ford and updated the axle bolts/spacer on all of the in-stock inventory. However, I would kinda expect/hope that Ford would provide the upgrade kit with the new transaxle.
Based on our experience, there is an overwhelming probability of axle bolt failure. It's not a hoax or a "may fail". For cars that are driven, the original bolts WILL fail. Compared to the cost of a new transaxle, the cost of the axle bolt upgrade is not a big deal... but I just don't think it's cool that after purchasing a major/expensive drivetrain component, the onus is on me to purchase and install another part (kit) to make the component viable. I guess just a gripe for me but when a shop doesn't know any better, they're going to install a component with a known/acknowledged non-trivial defect.
If you purchase a new driver's side horn button assembly, do you get an old Takata airbag?
*** MAJOR UPDATE / CORRECTION**** January 24, 2025
You know, this crow doesn't taste so bad - perhaps because it's not the first time I've tried it.
MANY KUDOS to Ford... I am an idiot. (How come no one looks surprised?)
When the dealership received this new transaxle I asked them to send me a couple of pics of the output flanges. They did, and I was able to see that no upgrade kit was installed. (Of course my objective in wanting to know was so that I could order a kit if needed.) Well, today was the day to start getting that transaxle into its new home. So, I connected the cherry picker and started lifting her out of the crate. "Hey, what's that small box of parts and those couple of pages of instructions??" Yep, you guessed it. Someone at Ford HAD done the right thing and opened up every crate and added the axle bolt upgrade kit as well as the instructions.
Now, ah-hem, I knew this all along and just wanted to see if Ford insiders were reading the forum.... yeah right.
Apologies to Ford for doubting them... and my sincere complements for "getting it right" for a car that went our of production ~20 years ago. Now, back to finishing this plate of crow.
Based on our experience, there is an overwhelming probability of axle bolt failure. It's not a hoax or a "may fail". For cars that are driven, the original bolts WILL fail. Compared to the cost of a new transaxle, the cost of the axle bolt upgrade is not a big deal... but I just don't think it's cool that after purchasing a major/expensive drivetrain component, the onus is on me to purchase and install another part (kit) to make the component viable. I guess just a gripe for me but when a shop doesn't know any better, they're going to install a component with a known/acknowledged non-trivial defect.
If you purchase a new driver's side horn button assembly, do you get an old Takata airbag?
*** MAJOR UPDATE / CORRECTION**** January 24, 2025
You know, this crow doesn't taste so bad - perhaps because it's not the first time I've tried it.
MANY KUDOS to Ford... I am an idiot. (How come no one looks surprised?)
When the dealership received this new transaxle I asked them to send me a couple of pics of the output flanges. They did, and I was able to see that no upgrade kit was installed. (Of course my objective in wanting to know was so that I could order a kit if needed.) Well, today was the day to start getting that transaxle into its new home. So, I connected the cherry picker and started lifting her out of the crate. "Hey, what's that small box of parts and those couple of pages of instructions??" Yep, you guessed it. Someone at Ford HAD done the right thing and opened up every crate and added the axle bolt upgrade kit as well as the instructions.
Now, ah-hem, I knew this all along and just wanted to see if Ford insiders were reading the forum.... yeah right.
Apologies to Ford for doubting them... and my sincere complements for "getting it right" for a car that went our of production ~20 years ago. Now, back to finishing this plate of crow.
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