I scanned the document from a fax copy and filtered it through OCR. Careful with the part numbers (but I think they're right).
Thanks for posting. Ford makes a comment not to change the bolts unless broken. Do you think Ford is trying to discourage the dealers from changing the bolts under the leak TSB?
Thanks for posting. Ford makes a comment not to change the bolts unless broken. Do you think Ford is trying to discourage the dealers from changing the bolts under the leak TSB?
YUP!
They've pbly 'been aware of that trick for sometime...
'Pretty clear who's interests are "#1" back at H.Q.
YUP!
They've pbly 'been aware of that trick for sometime...
'Pretty clear who's interests are "#1" back at H.Q.
Another possible reason may be that Ford knows that there is a design problem and changing the bolts as a precaution doesn't gain anything, they're just as likely to fail. I suspect they are trying to find a "root" cause and solution before making any announcements. As a mechanical engineer, I have been following this closely and believe that it will be a tough problem to solve without changing out the transmission.:ack The one large bolt is clearly a better solution (no shear and larger cross sectional area for axial loads), but there must have been some reason it wasn't employed.
Craig
Another possible reason may be that Ford knows that there is a design problem and changing the bolts as a precaution doesn't gain anything, they're just as likely to fail. I suspect they are trying to find a "root" cause and solution before making any announcements. As a mechanical engineer, I have been following this closely and believe that it will be a tough problem to solve without changing out the transmission.:ack The one large bolt is clearly a better solution (no shear and larger cross sectional area for axial loads), but there must have been some reason it wasn't employed.
Craig
Sadly, Craig I think you are right. I believe the current design doesn't have the necessary safety margin and failures due to fatigue will continue. In the absents of a real fix, the best we can do is be pro-active and treat these bolts as a maintainance item to be replace on periodically just as with things like timing belts, spark plugs, etc. The question is what is the interval? From the looks of my bolts and washer from a GT less than 1000 easy miles, they were on the way to a failure. The both washers were bent into a concaved shape and both washers had metal displaced from the bolts heads. Clearly indicating either the bolts were over torqued, the washers were too soft, or the loads are higher than a proper design could safely withstand.
The best fix would cost a lot of money and in my opinion with not be voluntarily coming from Ford.
I am not sure I understand the technical reason this would be so difficult to fix. Does "wiring" the bolt provide reasonable protection?
Another possible reason may be that Ford knows that there is a design problem and changing the bolts as a precaution doesn't gain anything, they're just as likely to fail. I suspect they are trying to find a "root" cause and solution before making any announcements. As a mechanical engineer, I have been following this closely and believe that it will be a tough problem to solve without changing out the transmission.:ack The one large bolt is clearly a better solution (no shear and larger cross sectional area for axial loads), but there must have been some reason it wasn't employed.
Craig
Very possible as well, to be sure.
It'd just be "nice" if, in the meantime, Ford would just send us all a letter telling us that they ARE in fact trying to discover the root cause of the pblm, and they'll take care of it as soon as they have it figured out. (Ya. I know. 'Admitting liability & all that.) At least we'd all know
somebody is officially working on a solution. As it stands now, "Area 51" is less of a mystery.
Until Ford ( or Jay!), or whomever, comes up with a "cure", our ONLY option when a failure occures remains the replacement of the existing bolts with NEW "existing" bolts whether that's a useless exercise or not. The cars won't run w/o 'em & the cars will not be parked while awaiting a permanent "cure".
After reading all the "back 'n' forth" on this thread for weeks now, I've decided to just
leave mine "as is" and DRIVE it (whenever the stinkin' snow around here leaves, that is). And, if it PUKES - IT PUKES. Screw it. I'm tired of thinking about it!
Such is life moving west on a south bound stagecoach...
