Don't overtighten a diff pin bolt (A story of personal victory!)

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Don't overtighten a diff pin bolt (A story of personal victory!)

2drpost · Uber Guru

way to go carl! wink

you need a good 6 point wrench for those damn bolts. the loctite they put on them doesn't help either.

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

Good going Carl ! Why are you pulling out the posi, is it in need of rebuilt ?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I started off with a 6 point socket but it is an older one and likely not in new condition anymore (worn a bit inside). Next time I will use a top quality newer 6 point to start with. And you're right, that Loctite can make it miserable...

No, I sold the center section to a friend of mine. I really had no use for this diff even though it's unique to the SS's. Both SS cars we own have the proper diff, so no need to keep it. This is leftover from an insurance auction SS that I bought to get the nice Suncoast hood.

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Good save Carl!.
I had one of these break off once...talk about a bastard to get out!.
Yep, always best to start w/ a Snappy 6-Point which have the corners rounded to put the force on the sides..
When something has a rounded head, better than Vise-Grips is a Snappy or good quality set of Battery Pliers.. These things really grab and are great for door pins or anything you need to get a good grip on...necessary in everyone's tool box once you get used to having them around!.

455gto · Poncho Master!

I'm impressed. When things go that bad I can't think straight.
The right tool makes the differance as well. I had a seatbelt bolt that I started to round with a Craftsman. Got a buddies Snap-on and out it came.

Stephenzone · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

congrats. that the type of imagination that i like to use. i was working on a old set of carbs for a 73 kawasaki and the screw had rounded on the inside. normally a good old set of vicegrips can get the head. not so in this case. i welded a old set screw to the end and as they say bobs your uncle. i keep old sockets for the locking lug nuts that everybody loses the key for, and pound them on. if you are at this states you don't care if it can be saved. congrats again on your quick thinking.

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

Lucky the pin didn't snap inside the diff. I seen that happen before. As for seat belt bolts with the recess stars inside, when I rounded it off, I just use a big drill bit same size as that hole and drilled the head off, then popped it with a chizel, mind you that was my parts car 1975 Grandprix.

CDN2PLS2 · Uber Guru

I've used the Weld a nut on it trick more than a few times,on different jobs.

RDubya · Poncho Master!

Excellent job Carl!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

CDN2PLS2 wrote:

I've used the Weld a nut on it trick more than a few times,on different jobs.

Yes, I can't take the credit for the idea. I see it at work occasionally.

At work we have a much better 220 Mig for welding. I wasn't sure this little welder I use here would make enough heat to get a good bite. Drilling the nut out so it would fit was an original idea though. I had to because a 3/8" thread (9/16" head nut) was so big a socket wouldn't fit in the channel in the carrier where the bolt is. I had no choice, it had to be 1/2" socket. At any rate, I am always thrilled for those little victories like this. Same goes for the ones at wrecking yards where you can see someone else has tried to get something off and abandoned it. Just makes me want to get the part removed even more when I see that!!!

At any rate, I now really understand the need to tighten the bolt but not overtighten it!

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

blacktransam wrote:

Excellent job Carl!

C2

59poncho · Poncho Master!

ive done stuff like that too but dont do it on a Honda!! Every time i tried to fix something on the wifes civic something would just break and if you try to weld or get imaginative it would just break more!! I was sooo happy when she sold that thing. I even dented the lower front fender with my finger somehow!!

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Carl,

I rebuilt my 12 bolt on my own. Of course, I've not had a chance to "put it to the test", but I'm hopefull it'll hold.

But the one thing that worries me is somthing a Mopar fellow at work asked;

Did you tighten and locktight the Bolt of Death correctly?...Huh, What?

He meant the retainer pin bolt. He'd had two Impala freinds that had lost diff's with the bolts actually coming loose.

So if it's too loose, you lose. Too tight...well, who knows.

Mark

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I can't tell you how many of those I've tried to remove only to have the threaded part come out ok, leaving the bolt cracked with the pin part impacted in the diff. Once I thought I was going to be lucky with a gearset in an abandoned 75 Biscayne police car. Bolt came out easy enough, but you know the rest - the pin stayed in and I didn't have anything with me that I could use to remove it in the time I had to do the job. So it had to be left there, and all I scored were the front and rear sway bars. If I had my time back I would have pulled the steering box too ...

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I believe there is an actual torque spec for those. If you have the manual, check it out. If not, I am sure I can get you the spec.

Did you install a new bolt? I always sell a new bolt to a customer (when he will listen to me) if he is doing rear axle seals. Bolts are cheap and removing a broken one is grief.