Axle install ends in frustration
If you are familiar with the Ford GT guys, you know that they had issues with the flange retention bolts that hold the splined in-board axle flanges to the transaxle. These are hidden behind the CV joint once it is put together. The factory bolts would break or back out (not sure which) and the axle would pull off the output shaft. This was a source of much frustration.
Not wanting any issues, I bought a set of the Accufab bolts from a guy that had sold his GT and never got around to installing them. They are 8mm 12 point bolts with holes for safety wire. I got flange bolts too, but they are too short for these CV joints, so I spent an incredible amount of money on what will ultimately amount to 4 nice bolts. Oh Well.
Torque specs for the Accufab bolts is 15 ft/lbs first pass, then 22 ft/lbs. Since they were drilled, I safety wired them.
The Porsche CV joints don't actually fit the Ricardo flanges. They are close, but the bolt spacing is not exactly even. So you have two choices to mount to the Ricardo: you can machine the holes a smidge bigger so that the bolts will go in, or you can get an adapter plate made by the Driveshaft Shop (they made the axles too, and there will be more on that in a minute....) I chose the adapter plates.
The adapter gets mounted to the flange: 30 ft pounds first pass, then 57 ft/lbs.
When I went to bolt up the axle I realize, these things are WAY too long. WTH?
The original axles were too long when I got the car. So I sent them back and they shortened them. Then we went to bolt them up and the flanges didn't fit. So I sent them back again, this time to get the adapters and to have the driveshafts shortened yet again to make room for the plate. This second time they went straight to Val's at VIR, where they sat on the floor for who knows how long. I never thought to hold them up when they came back, just made sure I had them. I mean these are clearly not mine, so I guess some poor SLC guy has driveshafts about 6 inches too short.
Looks like they will have to go back, yet again. I am really bummed!
If you are familiar with the Ford GT guys, you know that they had issues with the flange retention bolts that hold the splined in-board axle flanges to the transaxle. These are hidden behind the CV joint once it is put together. The factory bolts would break or back out (not sure which) and the axle would pull off the output shaft. This was a source of much frustration.
Not wanting any issues, I bought a set of the Accufab bolts from a guy that had sold his GT and never got around to installing them. They are 8mm 12 point bolts with holes for safety wire. I got flange bolts too, but they are too short for these CV joints, so I spent an incredible amount of money on what will ultimately amount to 4 nice bolts. Oh Well.
Torque specs for the Accufab bolts is 15 ft/lbs first pass, then 22 ft/lbs. Since they were drilled, I safety wired them.
The Porsche CV joints don't actually fit the Ricardo flanges. They are close, but the bolt spacing is not exactly even. So you have two choices to mount to the Ricardo: you can machine the holes a smidge bigger so that the bolts will go in, or you can get an adapter plate made by the Driveshaft Shop (they made the axles too, and there will be more on that in a minute....) I chose the adapter plates.
The adapter gets mounted to the flange: 30 ft pounds first pass, then 57 ft/lbs.
When I went to bolt up the axle I realize, these things are WAY too long. WTH?
The original axles were too long when I got the car. So I sent them back and they shortened them. Then we went to bolt them up and the flanges didn't fit. So I sent them back again, this time to get the adapters and to have the driveshafts shortened yet again to make room for the plate. This second time they went straight to Val's at VIR, where they sat on the floor for who knows how long. I never thought to hold them up when they came back, just made sure I had them. I mean these are clearly not mine, so I guess some poor SLC guy has driveshafts about 6 inches too short.
Looks like they will have to go back, yet again. I am really bummed!