Halfshaft Bolt Answers (all threads merged)

[Hammer]

Does anyone on this site have access to the kits to replace the washer and two bolts on each side? My local dealer has the other parts available (the six surrounding bolts and plates for each side), but I'm told the washers and half-shaft bolts themselves are on backorder from Ford and won't arrive for about two weeks. Any information would be much appreciated.

 

[Gulf GT]

I just ordered both as well this week. No word on when I will get them.

 

[AMB]

Hammer

I have a KIT; If you need it, You can have it and replace it, when yours comes in !!! Give me a call at 858-569-7438

Allen Besselievre

 

[B O N Y]

WELL,........ today I had the GT GUYS replace my half shaft bolts and washers... they suggested the upgrade, I really thought that it wasn't necessary and perhaps a little 'bs'.... well, again, I was dead ass wrong.

On 1153, I had one bolt loose and backing out and when we pulled out the bolts on washer was concave. My washers were the old style. If I did not do this upgrade I have no doubt I would find myself broken down on the side of the road.

The new bolts are safety wired in place. To be clear, Ricardo and not Ford are the guilty people.

Cost me $355 plus share of the travel time, but I'd rather have experts work on my car than grease monkeys. Had no desire trying to convince a Ford dealer that this work should be done before a failure.

Besides I got to drive 300 miles today.

 

[Shadowman]

WELL,........ today I had the GT GUYS replace my half shaft bolts and washers... they suggested the upgrade, I really thought that it wasn't necessary and perhaps a little 'bs'.... well, again, I was dead ass wrong.

On 1153, I had one bolt loose and backing out and when we pulled out the bolts on washer was concave. My washers were the old style. If I did not do this upgrade I have no doubt I would find myself broken down on the side of the road.

The new bolts are safety wired in place. To be clear, Ricardo and not Ford are the guilty people.

Cost me $355 plus share of the travel time, but I'd rather have experts work on my car than grease monkeys. Had no desire trying to convince a Ford dealer that this work should be done before a failure.

Besides I got to drive 300 miles today.

Great news Bony; I am very happy that you remained under the radar and now have them corrected and can finally put that concern to rest.

Now back to exercising her.

Be safe and have fun

Shadowman

 

[Gulf GT]

WELL,........ today I had the GT GUYS replace my half shaft bolts and washers... they suggested the upgrade, I really thought that it wasn't necessary and perhaps a little 'bs'.... well, again, I was dead ass wrong.

On 1153, I had one bolt loose and backing out and when we pulled out the bolts on washer was concave. My washers were the old style. If I did not do this upgrade I have no doubt I would find myself broken down on the side of the road.

The new bolts are safety wired in place. To be clear, Ricardo and not Ford are the guilty people.

Cost me $355 plus share of the travel time, but I'd rather have experts work on my car than grease monkeys. Had no desire trying to convince a Ford dealer that this work should be done before a failure.

Besides I got to drive 300 miles today.

Another good reason why we all should in the immortal words of Nike: "Just Do It".

 

[Hammer]

Many thanks to AMB (Allen)! I'm grateful to be part of this community!

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Washers & Bolts

Bony-

glad the GT Guys came to the rescue.

An ounce of protection for a pound of cure.

It's one of those woulda, coulda, shouda things.

--Jeff

 

[BlackICE]

The GT Guys just replaced the bolts on my 05 too. I haven't driven the car much at all, only 800 miles. Since the car isn't broken in yet, never really pushed it hard. In spite of that both washer are concave and I am glad they are changed and wired now.

I had a dealer line up to do the work, but they didn't have any bolts. Also the GT Guys know the car better than anyone you are likely to meet at the dealership. Found a loose bolt on a rear hub and some others that if not tightened would have cause paint damage in the long run.

The peace of mind and knowing that the job is done right is worth the extra money vs. a free job at the dealer at some unknown time in the future.

Getting stranded on the road in the future and waiting weeks for bolts and washers to come it would have cost me much more in high blood pressure!

BlackICE

 

[Hammer]

Got the car back yesterday.:banana Again, thanks ABM (Allen)!
Below is a photo of the two washer and half-shaft bolts that were removed. The upper washer and bolts came from the driver's side and looked fine. The lower washer and bolts came from the passenger's side. Note that the bolts sheared just below the heads. That being the case, I'm not sure how safety wiring them would help anything. I'm sure glad to have them replaced, and to have the GT grin back on!

 

[isaakgt]

A long time ago I worked as a mech. designer (when I still had a brain). Looking at this situation I really don't know if there is an absolute fix for this design. You might go with a thicker hardened washer to solve the warping issue. Not much you can do about the bolts (probably grade 8). Bolt hole centerline is too close to go with larger bolt diameter. If you had more space between the bolt holes I think you could solve the problem by using 'shouldered bolt' design. With this desigh you would torque the bolts against the tranny output shafts and not the washers. Just my thoughts.

 

[B O N Y]

Got the car back yesterday.:banana Again, thanks ABM (Allen)!
Below is a photo of the two washer and half-shaft bolts that were removed. The upper washer and bolts came from the driver's side and looked fine. The lower washer and bolts came from the passenger's side. Note that the bolts sheared just below the heads. That being the case, I'm not sure how safety wiring them would help anything. I'm sure glad to have them replaced, and to have the GT grin back on!

I am not an engineer, just a lousy salesman. However, I had several bolts that were loose, if they are safety wired they can't back out.

 

[isaakgt]

The safety wire is a must do. The problem with the bolt is that it is threaded all the way to the cap therefore making it weaker. I don't like what I see as to the way the bolt heads are shearing off.

 

[nota4re]

My esteemed colleagues,

The size/strength/shear capacity is not really the root problem. These bolts, under normal conditions see absolutely NO TORQUE. The bolts are holding the hub onto a splined shaft. The splines have all of the torque load and none is transmitted to the bolts. The issue is that the softness of the underlying washer allows the washer to warp which may eventually allow the bolts to loosen. When the bolts start lossening, the hub starts walking back off of the splined shaft. As soon as the bolts are far enough back, the hub clears itself of the splines. At this moment the torque on the entire axle is burdened onto these bolts and they shear instantly.

As such, wiring the bolts so that they remain tight is the perfect solution.

 

[isaakgt]

Kendall, I agree with what you are saying. Out here on the farm we like to over build. When we think it is heavy enough, we make it heavier. Have you been doing the conversions in your shop? If so, I will be making an appointment when the weather allows. Thanks, TI

 

[Hammer]

Nota,

As always - an excellent post, clearly stated, and makes a lot of sense. But I still don't understand why my washers had no visible warping. Is near-microscopic warpage enought to cause loosening of the bolts? Thanks for your input.

 

[lthlvpr]

I think it is a question of whether the bolts were under-torqued or over-torqued. Ford did not use Lock-Tite when they were installed at the factory. If the bolts were overtorqued the heads can snap off and the washers warp. If they were undertorqued, the bolts can back out enough for the halfshaft to remove.

 

[AMB]

Halfshaft Bolts

The bolts are installed at the Recaro Factory; Ford just installes the Haftshafts to the adapter flange with the "6" bolts. The "2" bolts holding the adapter flange are grade 12.9 metric = grade 8 sae. I am coing to a ARP M8-1.25 X 30mm lengh 12 point Chrome Moley Bolt. The HEAD is about 2mm wider in diameter than the Socked Head Bolt.

AMB

 

[BlackICE]

The 2mm larger diameter is about the largest that will fit. The 12.9 bolts are a little stronger than the SAE grade 8, but ARP makes great bolts that a probably better than 12.9, trust but verify.

Bolt/nuts specs

http://home.jtan.com/~joe/KIAT/kiat_2.htm

BlackICE

 

[timcantwell]

FYI for the group. I just picked up my 2005 from the dealer today, and had the service recall performed. They found no warpage or any kind of damage to the washers, or backing out of the bolts in the white/blue car. They did the service in a couple of hours with the new replacement kit/loctite, etc. I drove my 2006 Heritage to the dealer and left it for them to do tomorrow, as the VIN number showed in Ford's database that it too needed the recall performed. I'll see tomorrow afternoon what they found. Perhaps the bolts/washers are fine because I drive like a little old lady! I found it interesting that Ford states the reason for the recall as a "Possible oil leak". That is the party line for their system and service description.