spunk122

Anyone else had problems with bolts coming loose?
Two days ago, my prop front prop shaft fell off on the motorway, punching a hole in the bell housing in the process. On inspection two of the four bolts had snapped in the diff and two were missing completely. I assume they had worked loose.
Hours of drilling and welding later managed to remove the broken bolts and weld the box up. Lock tighted new bolts in with washers. Jobs a good 'un i thought.

Now it has come loose again on my way home from work today less than 100 miles later.....

Proper pissed off....

4x4 saph cossie

Dan

drsrst2zvh

Dan what are you doing to that car!
There has got to be something causing them bolts to come loose if its under un-necessary load as in mounted incorrectly itcould be causing them bolst to snap or undo.

spunk122

Haha mate I don't mind if the twat I bought it off left the bolts loose, I can deal with that, like I have dealt with all the other shit I have found!

Just can't understand why they have come loose again!!

Gonna put a nut and bolt all the way through with spring washers, that'll sort it!

Dezzer

Hi , never had the bolts come loose but have heard of the universal joints failing and causing problems ,can you feel any extra vibrations or hear any noises , sounds like the bolts are vibrating out .

spunk122

Yeah there was a vibration through the steering and gearnob immediately before it failed, and I got the same today but this time I was only doing 20mph!!
The coupling seemed fine also....
Also Danny cant see there being un necessary load as it is splined at one end

jamie956

Are the balance weights still there, my mates droped off all be it on a rear prop but worth checking.

Dezzer

Id check to see if there is any play in splined end gearbox bearing and diff bearing to see if that is causing a vibration

spunk122

Come to think of it I did notice a whine and it did crunch into gears a couple of times.... Looks like i'l have to bite the bullet and take the box out :-(

vroooom ptssssh

What bolts did you re-fit? if they are not high tensile (12.9 grade I think it is) then they will just simply fail!

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

you need the ford bolts, in the washer part of the frod bolt it has splines cut into it to stop them comming loose once tight

if they still come loose, you either have shit threads in the diff or the ujs are failing in the prop, dont bother with 2nd ones just get one and have it reconned with new joints and re balanced and use ford bolts and all will be good, or drill the diff plate out and nut and bolt the thing on

tabetha

Spring washers are unlikely to help much here, if bolting all the way through use some
k NUTS, or make your own for free!!
To make simply squash gently the nut in a vice so it is slightly oval in shape, this will cause it to grip the bolt, you'll soon see how much squashy force to use.
I would find the real reason for them loosening though in the first place as it sounds like a wear or vine issue.
tabetha

xr2wishy

iTrader: (2)

make sure you clean the threads before using loctite, carb cleaner works a treat or some thinners on the bolts. spring washers and high tensile 12.9 bolts should help a lot too.
other than that, there is a major issue afoot.