front end hum? could be loose inner axle bolts...
by hskrsolara » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:44 pm
Hey guys,
So I was under the solara tonight, doing an oil change. I've noticed a slight hum coming from the front end under certain speeds recently (worst at 60-70 mph). I figured it was just a by product of switching to Redline MT-90 transmission fluid, since it started at roughly the same time. Just had the intention of checking for transmission fluid leaks and found the culprit.
Got to looking around and found that I had 4 loose inner axle bolts on my drivers side and 3 loose bolts on my passenger side!!! These are the bolts that connect the cv shafts to the drive shaft. One of the bolts on the drivers side was completely unscrewed and I have no idea how it stayed in the hole without ripping the inner cv boot. I pulled a few loose and noticed that they have no loctite either. Should they?
Only thing I can figure is that when I had my obx headers installed (couldn't challenge that one on my own) that they pulled the axles and didnt get them tightened down enough on the reinstall. There is axle grease everywhere on my front sub frame, I am guessing that they filled the cv boots too full initially (when they reinstalled the axles) and the excess squirted out on the highway, leading to a trail of grease stuck to my frame.
So, i tightened them down the best I could, without removing the wheels or hubs, and went for a drive. The sound was almost completely gone.
Question I have: With the massive amount of torque that these probably need to be in spec, should I be buying new bolts? I've heard that these axle bolts can stretch and can not be re-used if removed. Any advice here? It was a bitch to tighten them up, I don't want to have to worry about this on long trips. I plan on taking it to my shop in the morning, possibly having them install new bolts since they didn't do it right the first time. I was pretty pissed when I saw this, but it was probably a simple mistake if they weren't supposed to re use the bolts... Also, there were washers to keep them properly spaced on the passenger, but none on the drivers side. Another reason to believe this occurred on reinstall.
So I was under the solara tonight, doing an oil change. I've noticed a slight hum coming from the front end under certain speeds recently (worst at 60-70 mph). I figured it was just a by product of switching to Redline MT-90 transmission fluid, since it started at roughly the same time. Just had the intention of checking for transmission fluid leaks and found the culprit.
Got to looking around and found that I had 4 loose inner axle bolts on my drivers side and 3 loose bolts on my passenger side!!! These are the bolts that connect the cv shafts to the drive shaft. One of the bolts on the drivers side was completely unscrewed and I have no idea how it stayed in the hole without ripping the inner cv boot. I pulled a few loose and noticed that they have no loctite either. Should they?
Only thing I can figure is that when I had my obx headers installed (couldn't challenge that one on my own) that they pulled the axles and didnt get them tightened down enough on the reinstall. There is axle grease everywhere on my front sub frame, I am guessing that they filled the cv boots too full initially (when they reinstalled the axles) and the excess squirted out on the highway, leading to a trail of grease stuck to my frame.
So, i tightened them down the best I could, without removing the wheels or hubs, and went for a drive. The sound was almost completely gone.
Question I have: With the massive amount of torque that these probably need to be in spec, should I be buying new bolts? I've heard that these axle bolts can stretch and can not be re-used if removed. Any advice here? It was a bitch to tighten them up, I don't want to have to worry about this on long trips. I plan on taking it to my shop in the morning, possibly having them install new bolts since they didn't do it right the first time. I was pretty pissed when I saw this, but it was probably a simple mistake if they weren't supposed to re use the bolts... Also, there were washers to keep them properly spaced on the passenger, but none on the drivers side. Another reason to believe this occurred on reinstall.
99 DWP SEV6 5spd 6.5psi+Meth, Tein+Tokico, EricSol+Brembos+EBC, OBX Headers+OBX 3" Exhaust, Supra MAF & 330cc, Spec 2+, Fidanza, TRD lip kit, Injen+Ext, Optima Red, Infinity 60.5+693.7i, 2 Kappa Perfect 12 VQ's+iPod+JVC DVD...etc
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hskrsolara - SolaraGuy Supporter
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