Halfshaft Bolt Answers (all threads merged)

[hemidoc]

It's all in the Timing

I finally got around to replacing the stock bolts with an Accufab set today. On one side one of the two bolts had the head sheared off. On the other both bolts were intact but the head broke off one with undoing. New washers, no deformation. VIN 767 03/06. I guess it was my lucky day!

 

[Empty Pockets]

I finally got around to replacing the stock bolts with an Accufab set today. On one side one of the two bolts had the head sheared off. On the other both bolts were intact but the head broke off one with undoing. New washers, no deformation. VIN 767 03/06. I guess it was my lucky day!

How many miles? :bang

 

[hemidoc]

1800

 

[dbtgt]

1800

Yikes!:eek

 

[Empty Pockets]

1800

Good gallopin' krymuny!!!!!!

Well, I have an Accufab bolt kit sittin' in my garage right now. And since the GT is STUCK in that same garage until the driveway mods are completed (so I can get the GT onto the STREET w/o using a dang bridge to get it there) - I might just as well (RELUCTANTLY) "bite the bullet" and dive into the upgrade.

DANG IT!!!!!!! :mad

 

[analogdesigner]

Lucky you are!

I finally got around to replacing the stock bolts with an Accufab set today. On one side one of the two bolts had the head sheared off. On the other both bolts were intact but the head broke off one with undoing. New washers, no deformation. VIN 767 03/06. I guess it was my lucky day!

Lucky you are!

This gets back to an earlier posting in which I explain that the factory upgrade kit is more problematic than the original "soft washer" version used on the earlier cars.

Are there still skeptics out there about my theory??? :confused

All GT's should have an Accufab upgrade kit no matter what!

Jay
www.gtsaver.com
(949) 366-1211 24 hr. order/tech support line
(949) 412-8889 Cellular
(949) 361-8110 Facsimile
analogdesign@cox.net

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34

 

[Empty Pockets]

If the 1/2 shaft seals ARN'T leaking, is there any real world reason to replace them when doing a "preventative replacement" of the 1/2 shaft bolts?

I've always been of the opinion if it ain't broke - don't fix it. But, I'm making an exception in the case of these stinkin' 1/2 shaft bolts. HOWEVER, I can't see replacing the seals too "just because."

What say you, Jay, Bill, Kendall, et al?:shrug :shrug

 

[Shadowman]

If the 1/2 shaft seals ARN'T leaking, is there any real world reason to replace them when doing a "preventative replacement" of the 1/2 shaft bolts?

I've always been of the opinion if it ain't broke - don't fix it. But, I'm making an exception in the case of these stinkin' 1/2 shaft bolts. HOWEVER, I can't see replacing the seals too "just because."

What say you, Jay, Bill, Kendall, et al?:shrug :shrug

IMO; change to the AccuFab hardware and leave the seals alone and you will drive with much less (behind the scene) concerns

Takes care

Shadowman

 

[nota4re]

Fully agree with Shadowman.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Thank you, B & K ...I DID order the Accufab kit. It's sittin' in the garage right now.

'Gunna do it. :bored :thumbsdow :bang :bang :bang

 

[B O N Y]

I had the GT GUYS install Ford replacement set and safety wired them, I have a spare set of Accufab bolts and washers tucked in the storage compartment.

 

[roketman]

Well last night at 1am coming home from a 160 mile each way wedding ,I had the dreaded half shaft failure!!! Only good think was I was 2 streets away from home! I was bummed!I have an 06 late built (1808) and figured that this would not happen! accufab here I come!!! my wife was in disbelief! "Your always talking about how well engineered this car is!"
OH well, I still love my gt . But is this going to happen again? and is there something I can do to keep an eye /wrench on things?

 

[BlackICE]

That is a late production 06, and I would think that it has the newer style black washers. Let us know the color of the washers and try to keep the failed parts.

Ford would like us all to change to the Accufab parts, that way any failures will not be accounted for! Also you are on your own for future failures, because you are using an aftermarket part.

That said, I think I will order an Accufab parts to keep as a spare with the car. I have already paid on my dime the GT Guys to put the new Ford parts in, but still you never know when the bolts break.

I don't think we will get an official answer, or solution anytime soon from Ford. The Accufab parts are currently best solution.

 

[Spirit]

Well last night at 1am coming home from a 160 mile each way wedding ,I had the dreaded half shaft failure!!! Only good think was I was 2 streets away from home! I was bummed!I have an 06 late built (1808) and figured that this would not happen! accufab here I come!!! my wife was in disbelief! "Your always talking about how well engineered this car is!"
OH well, I still love my gt . But is this going to happen again? and is there something I can do to keep an eye /wrench on things?

Rocketman,

Sorry to hear of your Half-Shaft failure.

Dang, and I just keep on driving mine.

I had the GT Guys replace mine with the Ford kit & safety wired.

Do I have a false sense of security?

Maybe I should do as Bony and get a set of the Accufab and keep in the machine.

Starting to worry a little, especially being I drive this thing out in some pretty much unpopulated areas.

Would not be fun having this happen on the way to California out in the desert somewhere.

 

[roketman]

spoke with gt rich, ordered the accufab ones.Jayson and gtrich claim that once I REPLACE THEM I don't ever have to worry about it again.
OH GOODIE!!!

 

[Indy GT]

Leave the seals alone

Empty...
I am in your camp as well.
If no prior problems with the halfshaft seals, I would leave them alone and just replace the bolts...

(Ahhhh which ones, Accufab or Ford upgrade kit?)

IMO ARP bolts are very good just worry about the CV clearance. As originally designed the M9 socket head bolt we have OEM I am sure is perfectly adequate for the application. This just has to be a batch of "bad" (incorectly processed, inproper heat treat, material impurities, etc) bolts that got into the system. Trouble is we don't know which VIN's have them as the failure data appears peppered throughout our production run.

Again I am sure the team at Ford is working the issue and will give us some guidance at some point... Hopefully soon.

Bill

 

[Empty Pockets]

(1)Do I have a false sense of security?
(2) Maybe I should do as Bony and get a set of the Accufab and keep in the machine.
(3)Starting to worry a little ... I drive this thing out in ... pretty much unpopulated areas.

(1) Oh, ya! Absa-lootly!

(2) Right again!
(3) That's kuz mos' peoples knows more gooder than tuh reside in Texzus!:biggrin :lol :rofl :banana

(I'm jus' rotten to th' core!:devil )

 

[Empty Pockets]

Empty...
I am in your camp as well.
If no prior problems with the halfshaft seals, I would leave them alone and just replace the bolts...

(Ahhhh which ones, Accufab or Ford upgrade kit?)

IMO ARP bolts are very good just worry about the CV clearance. As originally designed the M9 socket head bolt we have OEM I am sure is perfectly adequate for the application. This just has to be a batch of "bad" (incorectly processed, inproper heat treat, material impurities, etc) bolts that got into the system. Trouble is we don't know which VIN's have them as the failure data appears peppered throughout our production run.

Again I am sure the team at Ford is working the issue and will give us some guidance at some point... Hopefully soon.

Bill

As I stated above, I'm going with the Accufab-ulous kit, Bill. Mainly because there have been a case or two (reported here somewhere) of Ford retro kits that have ALSO failed. I haven't heard of a single Accufab kit yet that has - SO FAR.

Larry

 

[Indy GT]

Agreed!

Larry, agree again!

By my count there have been two reported Ford upgrade kit bolt failures. So the concern is still valid.

And yep maybe having an Acufab kit in the car (or installed in the car) at this point is our best current option.

Bill

 

[TEXAS GT]

So are you carrying the bolt kits around with you just for moral support or can you actually install them on the side of the road when the halfshaft falls out?

Have you guys figured out what tools would be necessary to do this and are you carrying them as well?

I'd order an Accufab kit if it can really be installed and get you home. Otherwise I'll wait til it fails, if ever.