Need some help, lost a rear Torx bolt...
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
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From: McPherson Kansas
Need some help, lost a rear Torx bolt...
Good evening everyone,
Well, not sure how to explain what happened. I've now switched out u-joints twice on my '95 vette and it appears I didn't tighten one of the PITA torx bolts going into the hub. My son was driving the car last weekend and said the drivers rear started banging like crazy. He stopped immediately and I drove the car home without hearing much of anything. I just thought it was yet another u-joint. I got underneath the car today and noticed one of the three torx bolts missing!! I'm surprised it didn't tear the ears of the drive shaft up more than it did.
Anyway, my question is, where do i find a new bolt?? I have already went back to the area where he heard the noise and couldn't find the bolt laying in the road anywhere. I don't think it makes any difference, but as you are laying under the car looking at the wheel this is the bolt in the 2pm position.
As always, i appreciate anyone who takes the time to read these threads and people anyone that can offer assistance!!
Have a good weekend,
Greg
Well, not sure how to explain what happened. I've now switched out u-joints twice on my '95 vette and it appears I didn't tighten one of the PITA torx bolts going into the hub. My son was driving the car last weekend and said the drivers rear started banging like crazy. He stopped immediately and I drove the car home without hearing much of anything. I just thought it was yet another u-joint. I got underneath the car today and noticed one of the three torx bolts missing!! I'm surprised it didn't tear the ears of the drive shaft up more than it did.
Anyway, my question is, where do i find a new bolt?? I have already went back to the area where he heard the noise and couldn't find the bolt laying in the road anywhere. I don't think it makes any difference, but as you are laying under the car looking at the wheel this is the bolt in the 2pm position.
As always, i appreciate anyone who takes the time to read these threads and people anyone that can offer assistance!!
Have a good weekend,
Greg
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,413
Likes: 2,745
'88 - '96 are the same and all 6 are the same. I would think there's someone with some around on some extra suspension parts or whatever. Dimensions if you were interested M12 X 1.75 X 86 long. I don't know that a correct or close dimensioned bolt would create issues. I would suggest a WTB in the parts section and maybe contact user ID "sea4parts" and he should likely be able to help you.
Axle shaft bearing bolt should suffice for description.
Axle shaft bearing bolt should suffice for description.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: McPherson Kansas
'88 - '96 are the same and all 6 are the same. I would think there's someone with some around on some extra suspension parts or whatever. Dimensions if you were interested M12 X 1.75 X 86 long. I don't know that a correct or close dimensioned bolt would create issues. I would suggest a WTB in the parts section and maybe contact user ID "sea4parts" and he should likely be able to help you.
Axle shaft bearing bolt should suffice for description.
Axle shaft bearing bolt should suffice for description.
Greg
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 765
just my "parts boy" 2-cents - I'm thinking the original PN for the bolt is 10052214 - seems to be discontinued by the general. I might also add - there is a washer associated with this fastener. that washer seems to be available @ $7.67 each from the general - 
. anyway, here's a fleabay link that might help:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1996-C4...-/161500349184
I don't know if $14 (shipped) is a good price or not, but sometimes you just have to pay the piper. and finally, I would personally use blue thread locker during installation, and of course, torque to spec.
I would like to add, I don't see how that bolt came out, on the fly, without causing some serious damage to the knuckle and half shaft assembly. ??? - there doesn't even seem to be any scuff marks or anything. no flames, but are you sure there was even a bolt in there in the first place? anyway, good luck with the repair - hope the fleabay link helps.
. anyway, here's a fleabay link that might help:http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1996-C4...-/161500349184
I don't know if $14 (shipped) is a good price or not, but sometimes you just have to pay the piper. and finally, I would personally use blue thread locker during installation, and of course, torque to spec.
I would like to add, I don't see how that bolt came out, on the fly, without causing some serious damage to the knuckle and half shaft assembly. ??? - there doesn't even seem to be any scuff marks or anything. no flames, but are you sure there was even a bolt in there in the first place? anyway, good luck with the repair - hope the fleabay link helps.
Last edited by Joe C; Aug 2, 2015 at 08:32 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: McPherson Kansas
just my "parts boy" 2-cents - I'm thinking the original PN for the bolt is 10052214 - seems to be discontinued by the general. I might also add - there is a washer associated with this fastener. that washer seems to be available @ $7.67 each from the general - . anyway, here's a fleabay link that might help:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1996-C4...-/161500349184
I don't know if $14 (shipped) is a good price or not, but sometimes you just have to pay the piper. and finally, I would personally use blue thread locker during installation, and of course, torque to spec.
I would like to add, I don't see how that bolt came out, on the fly, without causing some serious damage to the knuckle and half shaft assembly. ??? - there doesn't even seem to be any scuff marks or anything. no flames, but are you sure there was even a bolt in there in the first place? anyway, good luck with the repair - hope the fleabay link helps.
. anyway, here's a fleabay link that might help:http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1996-C4...-/161500349184
I don't know if $14 (shipped) is a good price or not, but sometimes you just have to pay the piper. and finally, I would personally use blue thread locker during installation, and of course, torque to spec.
I would like to add, I don't see how that bolt came out, on the fly, without causing some serious damage to the knuckle and half shaft assembly. ??? - there doesn't even seem to be any scuff marks or anything. no flames, but are you sure there was even a bolt in there in the first place? anyway, good luck with the repair - hope the fleabay link helps.
And I agree, I was shocked to see it was missing. You can't see it in the picture but there is evidence of the head of the fastener hitting on the ears of the drive shaft. No significant damage that I can see but there are marks/nicks in the ears. Another thing to consider is if the head of the fastener ever hits the rotating assembly it will turn the fastener counterclockwise. So i'm sure, once it made contact, it didn't take long to spin it out of the hub.
Thanks again for the help, I am always impressed with the feedback and assistance I receive from this community!!
Have a good week,
Greg
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: McPherson Kansas
I didn't remove it this time, the car spit it out. I'm guessing I didn't have it completely tight. I have changed u-joints once on the all the shafts about 4 years ago (preventative maintenance) and just in the last year replaced one u-joint on the back drivers side rear half shaft that failed. This last time, for whatever reason, I really struggled to get the half shaft back in the car a few months ago and I'm assuming I didn't have it as tight as I should have. For anyone that hasn't replaced the rear hub or u-joints this is a doable job for the do-it-yourselfer but those three hub bolts are a PITA to get to. Make sure you have a good torx socket and a strong impact wrench!!
Greg
Greg
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: McPherson Kansas
That is a good idea. Joe C, below, found a replacement fastener on Ebay I have ordered and i'll try that first. If not, I'll start my search again.
Thanks for the response,
Greg