Snapped a differential cover bolt!

[jman]

:{ Well, it happened today!! Changing the diffs and NV-5600 fluids and when using a torque wrench to do the final torque on the diff. cover bolts one snapped off. It is the one to the right of top center. I doubt it will leak, so I may not stress about it too bad. I wouldn't torque these things to 30ft-lbs, which has been addressed before. I just forgot. I would have been fine if I had left things alone, as I torqued them to 25ft-lbs and then was going back through. Needless to say, I snugged the fronts and that was it. I will try an EZ out when I get a chance but may just see if it leaks and if it doesn't then screw it.



Don't let this happen to you!!! :{

 

[Hercules130]

Inch Lbs or FT Lbs?

 

[klenger]

30 ft-lbs is the published spec, but appears to be much too high for the bolt size. Any suggestions of what would be a more suitable torque to use.

 

[jwilliams3]

20ft lbs is plenty on those little things.

 

[BGott]

When you go to drill it out, try a left hand drill bit. The bolt will probably just spin out. You'll have to get one at a machinist's supply or an online site like www.use-enco.com. I hate easy -outs. They ain't. The last broken diff cover bolt I removed was out of a 3/4 ton Chevy my nephew was working on. I welded a nut on the cross threaded bolt and it came right out. Then I broke the tap I was using to clean the threads, welded on another nut and it came right out, too! The kid was impressed. So was I but I had to act like I did it every day. :-laf

 

[nickleinonen]

hand tight using a little 4" long stubby combo wrench. . torque wrenches can make bad things happen if you don't use them correctly. . hope you can get it out with an easy out [as long as the threads didn't bottom out, there should be very little holding the broken bolt in place. it might come out with left handed drillbits or screw out drill thing]

 

[klenger]

It's not the torque wrench that causes the problem, it's the torque. At least with a torque wrench, you know how much torque is too much. It still sucks that Dodge publishes a number that is too high like this.



Does anyone know what Chevy's or AAM's specs are?

 

[rbattelle]

Like Nick says most of the tension in a bolt is held by the head. I'd bet you could turn the remaining bolt out of the hole with a screwdriver or left hand twist drill. Piece of cake.



Ryan

 

[jman]

Thanks for all the advice. I borrowed a set of left handed bits from a mechanic near our office and I had it out in less than 5 minutes. I just need to get to the dealer and grab a new bolt and stick it in. I used Amsoil Severe Gear so I'm hopefully not going to have this headache for another 50K. Thanks again to all that chimed in!! Oo.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

A thread 3-4 years ago addressed this issue. Proper torque should be around 18 ft lb. dodge pusblised too high a torque on the side bearing cap bolts too. Instead of 207 ft lb, 120 is about right for a grade 10. 9 bolt of its size.

 

[klenger]

Thanks Joe. I've updated the table at http://www.klenger.net/dodge/3rd-gen-reference/torque.html to reflect 18 ft-lbs.

 

[jman]

Went to the local Chevy dealer since it is closer and $0. 74 later had a new bolt. Drove home put it in snug with my human torque wrench and called it good. I guess it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

 

[LOtero]

Whats a torque wrench I always use the ol german measurement, goodintight, for stuff like that. :-laf

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I'd just leave it alone, it'll probably seal just fine