Help! Found broken bolts in diff case.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Alberta
Help! Found broken bolts in diff case.
I just took the cover off of my 83 Bronco 8.8 diff case to see what type of traction divice it had and I found it was the factory Ford Trac- Lok eventhough the tag said it was an open 3.55. And... 3 broken ring gear bolts were sitting at the bottom. It looks as if they loosened up and floated around the case until they got chewed up. I need to dissasemble and clean everything before I check for other dammage. I hope I can still use all the parts. Anyway, Is this a common problem? Do you thing that the previous owner never torqued the bolts enough or do these bolts typically back out? Should I use Locktite upon installing or some differnt bolts?
Thanks much for your help,
Clayton
Thanks much for your help,
Clayton
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
I have never seen that problem on a factory done unit, and have never had it happen to me, but have seen it when someone put one together torquing things by feel or with a 3/8 ratchet.
I do use locktight on all my ring gear bolts, and would recommend it.
Hope it isn't too bad but no this isn't a common problem of properly built diffs
I do use locktight on all my ring gear bolts, and would recommend it.
Hope it isn't too bad but no this isn't a common problem of properly built diffs
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Alberta
I cleaned and closely inspected the diff and this is what I found:
Deep gougeing inside the case and a nick on one main cap but found no cracks.
Pinion gear has one tooth with minor dammage but the ring gear is OK.
The Trac Lok carrier cast iron case has many gouges and marks on it but I never found any cracks.
Most of the bolts on the ring gear were loose and 3 were out.
The bolt that hold the yoke to the pinion gear was not very tight.
Dispite the major gouges in the case and carrier do you think I can still use these parts safely? Should I reuse the pinion gear?
Thanks,
Clayton
Deep gougeing inside the case and a nick on one main cap but found no cracks.
Pinion gear has one tooth with minor dammage but the ring gear is OK.
The Trac Lok carrier cast iron case has many gouges and marks on it but I never found any cracks.
Most of the bolts on the ring gear were loose and 3 were out.
The bolt that hold the yoke to the pinion gear was not very tight.
Dispite the major gouges in the case and carrier do you think I can still use these parts safely? Should I reuse the pinion gear?
Thanks,
Clayton
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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Sounds like you put the pin back in that grenade just in time. I would need to see the pinion gear but I would guess it will be o.k. All the bearings would worry me now that there has been metal floating around in there - I'm sure there life has been shortened.
P.S. I would also replace all of the ring gear bolts with new items.
P.S. I would also replace all of the ring gear bolts with new items.
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