In a message dated 97-03-26 13:52:00 EST, jimc(at)sysdiv.SDL.usu.EDU (Jim
Cantrell) writes:
>> > It is a good practice to remove the differential cover on high
>> > mileage cars every few years and torque the ring gear bolts to
>> > specification. I have found many "on their way" to lossening. I
>> > suspect that they take many years to complete their tortuous path to
>> > destruction.
>
>
Like Ramon, I've gone thru a number of differentials (not always
high-mileage) and have always found at least some if not all of the ring gear
bolts were finger-tight or at least severly undertorqued. Personally, I
would take Ramon's suggestion to REPLACE all of the bolts rather than just
re-torqueing them. If the bolts have started to come loose, then they've
probably been subject to a lot of shearing force every time the clutch is
released. The chances are pretty good that at least one of the bolts is
already cracked.
I know of at least one person who had a ring gear bolt break off when
attempting to re-torque it.
Its worth your peace of mind to take it apart now before the worst happens.
From the ones I've had go bad in the past, I'm not sure which is worse - the
high-speed failure where you're rocked by the explosive BANG!!!! of the
jammed bolt instantly blowing a hole thru the case, or the the low-speed
failure where suddenly, again without any warning, you're pitched into the
steering wheel as everything seizes up.
Dick Sanders
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