Diff bolt

[ARC]

Look what we discovered while installing the differential brace?
A bent bolt!
I gotta say while I love this car Ford service and quality are very questionable!
Get under there and check your 3 bolt setups if you have em.

 

[Cdubya]

Hopefully the new part is indeed stronger!

 

[StarWhite22]

What is the part # for the “new” bolt?

 

[Cdubya]

W720988S439
https://www.explorerst.org/threads/bent-rear-diff-bolt.5574/#post-73115

 

[MikeyP]

This doesn't surprise me at all. Looking at the video Steeda posted with how much the subframe moves during acceleration, I'm surprised these 1-bolts don't snap more.

 

[Cajun Heat]

Ordered a new bolt (W720988S439) on the 8th from eBay for $11.54, it delivered yesterday. Going to crawl under it today and swap it out. Can someone confirm the torque specs of 148 lf/lbs?

 

[WaferTech]

https://www.foexplorer.com/ford_explorer_removal_and_installation_axle_assembly-498.html

 

[Cajun Heat]

https://www.foexplorer.com/ford_explorer_removal_and_installation_axle_assembly-498.html

Thanks for the confirmation on the torque specs.

 

[ARC]

I went until the bolt wouldn't turn anymore!

 

[Kevin_FG23]

When these bolts finally break, is it a result of fatigue.... where eventually a crack starts and then propagates across the bolt over time? Would it make sense to loosen the bolt a half-turn periodically, then re-torque? Any bend in the bolt should show up as bushing deflection (and/or diff movement) when the bolt rotates.