Halfshaft Bolt Failures and Customer Satisfaction Program

[red gt 1442]

Gents,
I think if you read CAREFULLY the posts of INDY GT you will conclude that the Ford bolts now being used are equal to ACCUFAB's. Just from another supplier who sources Ford's rod bolts... If you have Accufab's bolts in your covered.
Daniel

I really dont want to beat a DEAD horse..........but....for all you qualified mechanics......are these new bolts (harder compound and all) really the answer to the FGT's problem? I was told that the reason they shear is because of the axel's sloppiness....(for lack of a better word). If this is the case, then may we presume that eventually no matter how hard the bolts are, the same results will happen. If I am right, is Ford addressing the real problem? or is this another band aid on a deep wound that eventually will bleed to death? I may sound dumb, so someone that understands it better than I, can you please explain this to me? Again, if this is going to bring up another year of axel bashing, and the fix...I will understand it, and I will be quiet....someone please set me straight.....TY


Gino

 

[fjpikul]

Gino, you are absolutely correct and you need to dump your car before they hit bottom. Please send it to me (now that it doesn't overheat) and I'll send you a check. Your buddy, Frank

 

[93extxdps]

Bolts

Red GT 1442,

This was posted in another thread. May explain the problem.

DP



The axle bolt issue really has little to do with the washer although the new "CA" kit Ford just released and Jamal discussed in our California technical session is a design different than used before. The issue is also NOT a "weak/limp" bolt, as many seem to think (and rethink and rethink...). All the bolts used in the production run as well as the earlier replacement kits used bolts with completely sufficient "strength" it is just they were electroplated to prevent corrosion and the plating (presumably done in Europe where the bolts were sourced) led to surface "hydrogen embrittlement" which led to premature failures. (Go look up this phenomenon on the internet).

 

[nota4re]

Hi Randy,

I have attached a diagram to help you to understand what is going on. The bolts that fail are indicated by the "1". These are the bolts that would need to be extracted. To date, I haven't seen a case where the bolts break flush (therefore requiring drilling and extraction), but I'm sure it can happen. It is more typical on a failure that only one of the two bolts would break. Further, there has NEVER been a case where both sides of the car have failed simultaneously. So, the worst case scenario is that you dealer is needs to "extract" 2 bolts, but much more likely, only 1. If he is saying something other than this, well...

The GT's half-shaft mates with "Output Shaft Flange (3)" using 6 bolts around the perimeter. There has NEVER been a reported case of these bolts breaking. These outer (6) bolts, as Shadowman has stated, are TTY (torque to yield) bolts and should be discarded instead of re-used. The new Ford kit comes with these 6 new bolts - exact replacements so that they too, can only be used once. This is the reason that Shadowman and myself prefer the Accufab (ARP) bolts - so that the coupler can be disassembled at any time and for any reason.

Not shown in the picture is the flanged shaft that protrudes from the transaxle and that the flanges of the "Output Shaft Flange (3)" engage with. The flanges on the "Output Shaft Flange (3)" can be seen and the "Output Shaft Washer (2)" sits flush (almost) with the end of the output shaft (not depicted) and the "Output Shaft Flange (3)". This is the area I referred to in the TSB where transaxle fluid can weep down the flanges and out from underneath the waser. The TSB describes the remedy for this. I know that as a matter of practice, Cool Tech, the GT Guys, and I suspect Shadowman, all address the TSB at the time of re-assembling these parts. Not to toot anyone's horn, but this is the techniques that come from experience whereas a competent but otherwise "GT inexperienced" mechanic can overlook these "tricks".

Don't hesitate to call if you have any questions.

 

[B O N Y]

I really dont want to beat a DEAD horse..........but....for all you qualified mechanics......are these new bolts (harder compound and all) really the answer to the FGT's problem? I was told that the reason they shear is because of the axel's sloppiness....(for lack of a better word). If this is the case, then may we presume that eventually no matter how hard the bolts are, the same results will happen. If I am right, is Ford addressing the real problem? or is this another band aid on a deep wound that eventually will bleed to death? I may sound dumb, so someone that understands it better than I, can you please explain this to me? Again, if this is going to bring up another year of axel bashing, and the fix...I will understand it, and I will be quiet....someone please set me straight.....TY


Gino

Gino.
There will be a special NY Tech Sessions at Joey's just for you guys from BBQ and da swamps of Jersey. Special Grandpa's best homemade in the basement
Vino Rosso, real Pisano food catered from Mulberry Street's best, you know, from the neighborhood, it will be served as well,.... you know the real good sauce.
Then we will have biscotti and cookies.. it will be real swell.
Edsel and Jamal will rehash everything. Stand by for the date...:lol:thumbsup:lol
For the rest of us this is as old as the night we busted Mary Sue's cherry.... Ford has resolved the issue and
the matter is closed.
Happy Holidays:thumbsup
Daniel
Moderator

 

[paul b]

Does anyone know if the Ford kit comes with the 12 torque to yield bolts for the outer flange connection?

 

[PL510*Jeff]

That's great news.:thumbsup

 

[Fast Freddy]

so i got my letter in the mail yesterday concerning the recall on the halfshaft bolts and washers. so is my best course of action to take my GT to the dealer and have this done now or wait until it breaks. whose to say that it will never break? i am from the old skool were if its not broke i don't want to fix it? call me paranoid but after making several trips to speeds up to 200 mph and never having a problem with my stock ones whose to say that if i change to the new ones that i might start having problems? is the factory recall the best fix or is there something offered thru the aftermarket that is considered to be better. i don't want a band-aid solution to a problem that has not made itslef known on my car yet. so has ford got this fix done right or not? i don't want to mess with it if there fix is not 100% correct to solve the problem.

 

[B O N Y]

Freddy...
Your call, Ford has confirmed that your bolts don't meet their specs.
We have had thousands of posts on this subject. We will not be debating it further.
Who knows what will happen if you run with the original bolts,.. not me.
I did what was right for me. I'm sure you will do what is correct for you.
Cheers,
Bony
moderator

 

[Empty Pockets]

See posts 66-67-68 on this thread, Freddy.

Bottom line is: to be safe, the origionals pbly OUGHT to go "bye-bye". "Much gooder" to PLAN for an hour or two of downtime done on YOUR schedule than to experience the possible alternative...

Just MHO.

 

[Fast Freddy]

Freddy...
Your call, Ford has confirmed that your bolts don't meet their specs.
We have had thousands of posts on this subject. We will not be debating it further.
Who knows what will happen if you run with the original bolts,.. not me.
I did what was right for me. I'm sure you will do what is correct for you.
Cheers,
Bony
moderator

to make a long story short i guess what i am really asking is do you guys feel that fords fix for this problem is 100% correct? if so then i will take my car into ford and fix it before it breaks then......

 

[B O N Y]

Yes Freddy!
Ford feels that the problem is solved and the fix is withing super car standards.

 

[Fast Freddy]

Yes Freddy!
Ford feels that the problem is solved and the fix is withing super car standards.

i will be getting this done then this spring when i get my oil changed by the dealer again :thumbsup

 

[B O N Y]

Great Freddy,...
Otherwise you might find on the internet a clip of DBK or me having a panic attack fearing that this matter will be reopened. Here is an example of what you could cause by reopening this issue...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxtyisoNBaI&eurl=http://www.gasholes.com/smf/index.php?topic=12000.0;topicseen

 

[Fast Freddy]

Great Freddy,...
Otherwise you might find on the internet a clip of DBK or me having a panic attack fearing that this matter will be reopened. Here is an example of what you could cause by reopening this issue...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxtyisoNBaI&eurl=http://www.gasholes.com/smf/index.php?topic=12000.0;topicseen

LMAO bony...... thats some HIGH anxiety right there :lol

 

[Empty Pockets]

Someone needed to find a hammer with which to administer a little "anesthesia", as Moe Howard would say...

 

[Jason's Auto Spa]

Great Freddy,...
Otherwise you might find on the internet a clip of DBK or me having a panic attack fearing that this matter will be reopened. Here is an example of what you could cause by reopening this issue...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxtyisoNBaI&eurl=http://www.gasholes.com/smf/index.php?topic=12000.0;topicseen

Those look like the "Relaxed Fit" cuffs :eek

 

[STUNTS]

so there's aproblem with the half shaft bolts?

 

[B O N Y]

Tim is back, guess every house in SoCal is lite up!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!

 

[speedismyfriend]

Do all the dealers of Ford GT's have the bolts in stock or do I need to call and have them order the parts for me?
all help is appreciated
thank you