Check those Rear Axle Nuts

[nota4re]

We've had a pretty constant flow of GT's through the shop in the last few months. We are starting to routinely check the torque of the rear axle nuts and we are finding that at least 1 in 5 cars has either one or both rear nuts starting to loosen. That's a lot and warrants the creation of this post to recommend that you check these when you are doing any kind or routine maintenance of your 05-06 GT. You'll need to remove the rear wheel to see the nut. You will be able to see the small paint line on the nut and axle showing that the nut has been torqued. If these marks are NOT line up, then the nut is likely backing itself off. If you confirmed they are not aligned, the torque spec is 258 ft-lbs.

I snapped this picture today from a GT we picked up over the weekend for routine service. Passenger side axle nut was fine, but this driver's side one has backed off about 90-degrees.

 

[extrap]

I suppose there's a reason a safety pin wasn't utilized ... ?

 

[GT@50]

I suppose there's a reason a safety pin wasn't utilized ... ?

yes, $.05

 

[GT@50]

We've had a pretty constant flow of GT's through the shop in the last few months. We are starting to routinely check the torque of the rear axle nuts and we are finding that at least 1 in 5 cars has either one or both rear nuts starting to loosen. That's a lot and warrants the creation of this post to recommend that you check these when you are doing any kind or routine maintenance of your 05-06 GT. You'll need to remove the rear wheel to see the nut. You will be able to see the small paint line on the nut and axle showing that the nut has been torqued. If these marks are NOT line up, then the nut is likely backing itself off. If you confirmed they are not aligned, the torque spec is 258 ft-lbs.

I snapped this picture today from a GT we picked up over the weekend for routine service. Passenger side axle nut was fine, but this driver's side one has backed off about 90-degrees.

View attachment 70234

Ha, crazy you posted this today. I was going to post it today too. 3 of the last 4 I've worked on had at least one loose nut. But, I'll take your 258# and raise you to 295# and magically, the lines realign. Then put some Loctite 290 on. It's designed to wick in.

 

[Petunia]

Hi - new to the car and the community. Just finishing a build on my own car. Checked the rear half shafts to hubs and the RR was a couple of degrees back from 258 Ft Lb / 350 Nm. The LR was OMG practically loose. Is there an updated higher torque? Only just aligned the car after resurrection. Smog next in CA. Can't wait after reading the posts - Dan

 

[GT@50]

Hi - new to the car and the community. Just finishing a build on my own car. Checked the rear half shafts to hubs and the RR was a couple of degrees back from 258 Ft Lb / 350 Nm. The LR was OMG practically loose. Is there an updated higher torque? Only just aligned the car after resurrection. Smog next in CA. Can't wait after reading the posts - Dan

295# on alldata and in 06 book. That took the one I did a week ago back to the marks, L and R sides.

 

[Petunia]

Built a lot of collisions as a tech over the years and prefer OE bulletins. Alldata's pretty good though. Couldn't believe how loose the LR nut was. Going to get new in any event and re-check. Thx.

 

[PeteK]

I checked my axle nuts while i had the wheels off for new tires before driving to the Rally. The marks on the left nut were aligned, but the right nut had about 30 degrees of misalignment. I got out my heavy duty 3/4” drive ratchet with 20” long handle and tried to tighten it. It didn’t budge, even with my full weight (220 lbs) standing on the end of the ratchet and bouncing a bit. I was applying at least 300 ft-lbs. I don’t see how it moved on its own.

Alternate hypotheses: After initial assembly and marking, it was retorqued, perhaps because the factory determined that too much initial torque was used, maybe due to a torque wrench calibration problem.

 

[EvanDiaz]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Petunia]

Just did mine. The RR CV joint mounting flange to transaxle output shaft bolts broke off from the output shaft with no effort at all on removal. It was about to fail at 2,800 miles! Once easy outed no biggy.

 

[MiamiGT]

Do the Rear Axle Nuts make a sound when loose ?

 

[Petunia]

Depends. Read the great threads posted on this site and make sure the technical service bulletin for the rear axle output shaft to inner cv joint work is done to the bulletin spec. I just did mine and the output shaft to inner CV mounting casting bolts broke off with literally no effort at 2,900 miles!!!
If those break I would think noise progressively worse with bad outcomes. The outer cv shaft to hub nuts are coming loose from the comments made. My left rear was coming loose. Once that backs out big problems. I replaced both LR and RR nuts and torqued to the aforementioned 295 foot pounds. The shop manual calls for a lower figure like 258 foot pounds. A lot of really great info can come from reading threads on this site.

 

[BIGFOOT]

This is great information and photos. And scary…..

 

[GT@50]

Depends. Read the great threads posted on this site and make sure the technical service bulletin for the rear axle output shaft to inner cv joint work is done to the bulletin spec. I just did mine and the output shaft to inner CV mounting casting bolts broke off with literally no effort at 2,900 miles!!!
If those break I would think noise progressively worse with bad outcomes. The outer cv shaft to hub nuts are coming loose from the comments made. My left rear was coming loose. Once that backs out big problems. I replaced both LR and RR nuts and torqued to the aforementioned 295 foot pounds. The shop manual calls for a lower figure like 258 foot pounds. A lot of really great info can come from reading threads on this site.

I think the Ford TSB on the stub shaft repair is where it lists 295# for the nut