What is your opinion on this??

[itsabronco]

Having problems with clutch chatter, excessive backlash, and struggling to take off at times. I thought the clutch was giving me issues with shuddering on take offs. Had a previous thread on here about that. I've replaced three clutches because of the shuddering. Then... ... ...

Found out to have excessive backlash on the rear end . I could almost rotate driveshaft a quarter turn with tires on the ground in neutral. When I would try to take off, the excess play would cause the drive train to shudder when it would catch up to itself,clunk together and load up. The shuddering would continue throughout the whole bronco until it got moving. I thought it was faulty clutches. Hope this makes sense. Hard to explain.

Then I noticed at times it seemed as if the parking brake was on when trying to go. It was the loose bolts binding against the side of the 3rd member housing.

The bolts in the picture all came out of the bottom of the axle housing along with a chunk of ring gear and pieces of cast iron from 3rd member housing. The bolts are all loose, causing the ring gear to be able to start turning before the Detroit. twisting against each other to be able to move independently. You can see where the bolts have been wollering back and forth.

Finally it split the housing at the fill plug. Pushed from the inside out. I thought the locker came apart or some thing.

Why did the bolts come out? Faulty mechanic work?

 

[swampu]

Happy times indeed.

 

[okie4570]

I think you're going to notice a huge difference!

 

[broncnaz]

Hard to see but I dont notice any Lock tite on the bolt threads. I know blue locktite comes with most of the rebuild kits but its not uncommon to use red on the ring gear bolts.

 

[itsabronco]

Is it standard to use lock tire on ring gear bolts?

 

[ScanmanSteven]

Bolts either weren't torqued properly and/or Loctite wasn't used. The only way these come loose is improper installation.

 

[WheelHorse]

What the scanman says.

 

[BroncoDawg]

Mine backed out long ago and holed the third member case. Learned that it is common for them to back out and that they should be torqued every few years. Seems that locktite should protect from that, but it didn't and perhaps one of the gurus on here could speak to that as still curious to know more????

 

[itsabronco]

Bolts either weren't torqued properly and/or Loctite wasn't used. The only way these come loose is improper installation.

That's what I'm sure of, just want to hear it from you all on here. Going back to shop today to raise a little hell about it. Probably will have to eat it all but at least I got to try.

 

[broncnaz]

Kinda hard to say whats common and whats not. most assmebly manuals dont mention locktite. but the rebuild kits come with lock tite. usually blue blue holds ok but bolts can still back out. might be better to use red on the ring gear bolts. Also if there is oil on the threads loc tite may not do its job. My thoughts are that many times bolts are reused so they either are already streched or they are over streched when retightened could be a cause of them coming loose.
Dont know if they still do it but a lot of racers used to safety wire all the bolts. Some of the older axles I've taken apart had the ring gear bolts safety wired

 

[xcntrk]

Is it standard to use lock tire on ring gear bolts?

Yes that's why it's included. Also never supposed to reuse ring bolts, also why they're included with rebuild kits...

Hard to stomach when a little lock-tight or improper spec just cost OP hundreds of dollars on broken parts..

 

[itsabronco]

Anybody ever put a small tac weld on the bolt head? By the way, the shop is taking care of the problem. New parts on order, no charge...

 

[Past_Miner]

Bolts either weren't torqued properly and/or Loctite wasn't used. The only way these come loose is improper installation.

X2, or X3, wherever we are. I've never taken one apart that didn't have loctite in the threads. I always use red on these and I always blast the holes with brake cleaner and compressed air first to clean the oil out. The loctite should work even with the oil but there's no reason to take a chance on a diff build. The cost is one thing but the PITA factor is another one.

 

[broncnaz]

I wouldnt tack weld the bolts to the housing while it will hold it can weaken the bolts and housing. Locktite is all thats needed.
Actually none of the rebuild kits I've ever bought have come with ring gear bolts. So I've always reused them. but I do locktite them.

 

[Justafordguy]

They wouldn't have come out if they were tightened correctly but I always use red locktite on ring gear bolts just to make sure.