Topic: Loose Drivetrain

[HEVAK]

So I heard some rattling coming from my front end. I thought it was time for new CV Half Shafts until I jacked the truck saw this...

What's missing in this picture??

Loose Drivetrain

The four bolts that were holding the drivetrain to the transmission were so loose that one of them was missing and the other three spun freely.

Check your bolts people!!

[dan826]

This seems very common. When I did the Titan Swap they were all loosened and I was able to remove them by hand. Last year, Carl (suddingusnavy) had a few of the bolts come out while on a trail in Big Bear with the remaining bolt ripping out of the flange and the spinning shaft scratching up the outside of the transmission housing on his frontier. I really recommend people check these bolts and if possible take them out and retighten with some blue loctite.

[SoCalXTerry]

Have you had work done there or is that from the factory?   

[HEVAK]

That's from the factory

[dan826]

Mine and Carl's were from the factory. Mine was just a few months out from brand new and they had loosened up where I could spin them easily with my fingers. Carl was able to get a new driveshaft under warranty.

[HEVAK]

Yeah, I got lucky. I think...unless it caused some damage that'll show up later.

A new bolt, some locktite, and a little elbow grease (thanks Dana), and all is well.

[chrishaynesusa]

There is a product made called torque stripe.

It is like a wax after it dries and will break or fall off if the nuts move.



this will allow you to tell at a glance if the bolts/nuts back off at all.
we use this in the military.

Comes in different colors too

[SoCalXTerry]

Thanks Chris

[dan826]

There is a product made called torque stripe.

It is like a wax after it dries and will break or fall off if the nuts move.

Comes in different colors too

Thanks Chris. I might get some of that. I'm always paranoid stuff is gonna fall apart and am checking all the important bolts before any big trip.  I think this will give me more peace of mind.

[dan826]

Yeah, I got lucky. I think...unless it caused some damage that'll show up later.

A new bolt, some locktite, and a little elbow grease (thanks Dana), and all is well.

I doubt there would be any damage. You still had more than one bolt on so it wouldn't have spun around off-center.

[SoCalXTerry]

Yeah, I got lucky. I think...unless it caused some damage that'll show up later.

A new bolt, some locktite, and a little elbow grease (thanks Dana), and all is well.

A new bolt, some locktite, and a little elbow grease (thanks Dana), and a torque wrench, and all is well.

As I get older if becomes more and more difficult to tell what 60 lbs torque feels like.

http://www.thenewx.org/forum/view.php?pg=how-to_torque_specs

[HEVAK]

Oh Oh 

I'll keep an eye on it, cuz we didn't use a torque wrench.

[dan826]

Oh Oh 

I'll keep an eye on it, cuz we didn't use a torque wrench.

It's a difficult place to use a torque-wrench, I couldn't get a socket to fit so had to use an open-ended wrench. What I did is I used a torque wrench on another bolt to get the feel for how much force it was. You have to make sure you hold it at about the same distance though. Another trick I sometimes use is useing one of those luggage scales (the ones with a hook an either a digital readout or a spring dial). If you hook it up to any old wrench about a foot away from the end, then it works perfect, if not you have to do some math.

[HEVAK]

Thanks Dan!! We had to use an open ended wrench as well. The skid plates didn't help the access either.

I'll keep an eye on it.

[SuperSlideStyle]

I would definitely recommend using either the green (light) or the blue (med) Locktite on all drivetrain parts.  Glad you caught it early.