Well I took the old girl off the lift this week and went for my annual PA inspection and airbag recall and all is well... The weekend hit and it was a great day so I thought I would go for a spin to my office to cut the grass. As I exited the car I smelled that not so fresh smell.... gear lube.... I decided that the trailer was the best bet after seeing a quart of gear lube on the diffuser pan... Of course, DBK was my first call, then was referred to Rich.... After a talk with Rich Brooks , he determined that I had the dreaded half shaft failure, and the axle had actually moved out of the casing a bit... an almost disaster. After a bit of coordination, Tom my transport guy for a lot of my cars was on his way to Detroit with my car... Rich, didn't even hesitate, and said that he would get my car fixed, and put some new Bridgestone on before they leave for Maryland... My gratitude is unspeakable... Having just met Rich and Dennis at my first Rally last fall, I am completely overwhelmed that my car is in their shop just 48 hours after a break... I must say, An unbelievable family we have here... Thanks to the GT guys!!!!!!!!!!!! Eric
Well it finally happened....I broke my GT
- Thread starter Doctr V
- Start date
FBA
GT Owner
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh...how so??? Were the 'originals' not replaced 'way back when'? If they were, are you saying you just had a set of Accufabs or the equivalent Ford replacement bolts die? :eek
It's historic either way in that neither of the latter 'kits' have ever failed to my knowledge...nor have any 'original' factory bolts ever lasted this long (unless there's a 'zero mile' FGT sitting in a museum someplace...and even then the 'bolts are very likely rotted away and nobody knows about it yet).
Regardless, having the failure sux. :frown
It's historic either way in that neither of the latter 'kits' have ever failed to my knowledge...nor have any 'original' factory bolts ever lasted this long (unless there's a 'zero mile' FGT sitting in a museum someplace...and even then the 'bolts are very likely rotted away and nobody knows about it yet).
Regardless, having the failure sux. :frown
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Im the second owner of the car, and to mine and Fords knowledge it was never done... So at 9600 miles it should be fine from here on out... I bought the car in 2009 and have only put 1500 miles on it...
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
Holy krymuny! Ask the GT Guys to check and see just what/which/whose 'bolts broke. 'Twould be interesting to know...
(BTW, I'm sure you recall that the car's 'mileage' supposedly isn't the controlling factor in a 'bolt failure. Time is. I can't believe a set of 'stockers' may have lasted this long!)
(BTW, I'm sure you recall that the car's 'mileage' supposedly isn't the controlling factor in a 'bolt failure. Time is. I can't believe a set of 'stockers' may have lasted this long!)
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Based on what empirical evidence? That's a big time hypothetical. There are estimates that say 1 in 7 of all the vehicles on the road have uncompleted safety recall work. Who knows how many people with low mileage GTs completed work for a technical service bulletin? Based on how many GTs sit around collecting dust, I would view it as probable that there are 100+ GTs with the original bolts. I was talking to Rich about this topic and The GT Guys still see Ford GTs in for service with the original bolts.
Someone with an engineering degree will have to tackle the other part, but as far as I know, the greater stress a component with hydrogen embrittlement is under, the quicker it will fail. Considering many GTs were several years old and had many thousands of miles when the bolts broke, it would seem probably these low mileage cars that don't move would function properly for some time if someone suddenly decided to drive them.
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
I was referring to the part I quoted:
How on earth would you have any evidence one way or the other on the topic? :lol
GT Tech
Ford GT Team Alumni
DBK is right.
Last year, 2 of my clients out here, (3 cars between them) had never had the recall done. (never even knew about it) All 3 cars are under 2000 miles. I replaced them with Acu-fab kits. None had any broken or loose bolts. I did an OASIS report on all 3, and verified the fact that it was never done.
Last year, 2 of my clients out here, (3 cars between them) had never had the recall done. (never even knew about it) All 3 cars are under 2000 miles. I replaced them with Acu-fab kits. None had any broken or loose bolts. I did an OASIS report on all 3, and verified the fact that it was never done.
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
...you left out what preceded that. What I said in context was:
"... none of the latter 'kits' have ever failed to my knowledge...nor have any factory bolts ever lasted this long ("to my knowledge" clearly implied since it's part of the same sentence).
Now...where's my stinkin' Zacapa XO...I know it hasta be 'noon' somewhere...:bored
FENZO
GT Owner
PeteK
GT Owner
For the record, I believe I have the original axle bolts in mine, with 32Kmi on it. The OASIS does not show that the recall was done. I plan to have the GTGuys check when they do the 30,000 mile service at John Bailey's meet next weekend.
Pete if you are not the original owner, it would be easy to have had them changed by an independent mechanic, with the accufab kit (or) and not show on the OASIS report.
And am I having flashbacks to circa 2006-2007? yet another debate on axle bolts instigated by a non car owner?
And am I having flashbacks to circa 2006-2007? yet another debate on axle bolts instigated by a non car owner?
Ok, well now we've cleared it up. GT Tech, The GT Guys and Shelbyelite (who all work on GTs for a living and see them constantly) have all confirmed they still see drivable GTs with stock bolts, so they have lasted this long. One of the three told me they see them "all the time," especially on lower mileage cars.
I'm comin' to join you Elizabeth!
They were good times. We learned that not only can a horse be beaten into glue, it can also be re-animated and liquified several hundred additional times. :lol
Glad your car is getting sorted!