Torque

[chris white]

This is what happens when you ask for 500ftlbs in 1st gear with sticky 315 tires!

[Tom]

Yikes. I'm guessing the bolts worked loose if they sheared like that? I blew up 2 transaxles, until I had Kevin Gross rebuild one with new hardened gears like the S versions. Shortly after installing the strong transaxle, I shattered the CV joints. I then went on a pilgrimage to stiffen up the tranny mount, and use stronger joints (98-5084-B) and custom axles. So far so good. I was going to fab up some kind of stabilizing bracket for the transaxle case, ala a panhard bar, but I never got around to it, and it doesn't now seem to need it. Semi-solid transmission mounts proved too loud for me, especially without a back seat, so I ended up using 60A Urethane from McMaster to fill the factory mount. I also box-welded the mounts because many (most?) used mounts showed cracking from the side to side play, allowing the mounts to pull apart and allow yet more play...and the more play you have, the harder it is on the axles/joints...

shattered cv.jpg (200.57 KiB) Viewed 1981 times

boxed-hangers-2.jpg (86.54 KiB) Viewed 1981 times

[Thom]

Were you careful enough to clear off the bolts from any grease before screwing and tightening them back into the output flanges? It's nearly impossible to take the joints off and drop the axles without getting bolt ends dirty with grease, and it goes without saying that the threads should be squeaky clean before reassembly.

[chris white]

Were you careful enough to clear off the bolts from any grease before screwing and tightening them back into the output flanges? It's nearly impossible to take the joints off and drop the axles without getting bolt ends dirty with grease, and it goes without saying that the threads should be squeaky clean before reassembly.

Yes, cleaned them well - but with the stage 8 fasteners it does not matter because they are physically held in place from rotating. Kind of a pain to install but bulletproof

[Tom]

Are those Stage 8 bolts that sheared?

I mark everything with torque paint these days...

[Thom]

I have not heard of these bolts but if they are like the "upgraded" cages from some that apparently break more easily than stock cages... well...

[chris white]

Are those Stage 8 bolts that sheared?

I mark everything with torque paint these days...

the old ones were stock 12point bolts. looking at the failure several had loosened a bit. The stage 8 bolts have a 12 point male head with a 'washer' the matches the 12 point head and has a notch for the CV body to that the bolt cannot turn. Held in by a clip. Mildly annoying to install but will not back out.

[Tom]

Ah, gotcha. Stage 8 should fix that. I've had luck getting everything squeaky clean, then torqueing them in a star pattern in 3 stages, then using torque paint and watching for the first few weeks. But locking bolts should fix all issues. Be careful to check the fitment on those. Some of the early sets were too long and would hit stuff behind the joint (e.g., left loose when believed tight, hitting stuff, getting stuck, etc.).... I got a set early on and opted not to use them for that reason. Others ground them down, or added a thicker spacer washer....

[chris white]

Ah, gotcha. Stage 8 should fix that. I've had luck getting everything squeaky clean, then torqueing them in a star pattern in 3 stages, then using torque paint and watching for the first few weeks. But locking bolts should fix all issues. Be careful to check the fitment on those. Some of the early sets were too long and would hit stuff behind the joint (e.g., left loose when believed tight, hitting stuff, getting stuck, etc.).... I got a set early on and opted not to use them for that reason. Others ground them down, or added a thicker spacer washer....

I have bolt shortening technology! Only one side had interference. weird

[Tom]

That is weird. Which side has interference?