DeTomaso Mailing List: December 97, Message #199
     



From: 	<KVERGES@figdav.com>

Subject: Re: half shaft removal

Date: 	Mon, 15 Dec 1997 09:23:02 +0000



The studs should protrude only about ½ to 5/8 inch from the flange, and you half shafts should compress that far.  Mine compress enough (just took 'em off again last weekend).  If you have spicers, someone may have put them together with too-long pieces, or your studs (bolts, actually, I assume) are too long.  



The lockwashers should fit perfectly, or they are the wrong size to begin with.  The bolts and nuts are 7/16-20.  If you want what I think is the optimum setup, find an aricraft hardware store and get AN (Army-Navy) hardware.  Take examples fo what is on there and get jetnuts (they need only a ½ or 9/16 wrench instead of 5/8, which makes them easier to tighten & loosen, & they will never back off) and AN washers, all of which will fit properly and not fail.  Throw the lockwashers away, but do make sure your half-shaft bolt reach is such that no shank shows (i.e. only thread) when the bolt is all the way in and AN washer installed.  AN bolts can be used to precisely set this, as they come in 1/8 -inch increments for reach.  BTW, you also don't want threaded portion of the bolt inside the flanges as it is weaker in shear and will abrade the holes in the flanges.  Thus, make sure your half-shaft bolts are neither too short nor too long.  For more details, get Carrol Smith's books Prepare to Win and on Fasteners.  Total nerd city, but informative.



If it's OK for military aircraft, it's OK for me.



Keith



>>> John Haas <kneedragger@ghgcorp.com> 12/14/97 12:59PM >>>

howdy guys:

I have removed my half shafts many times over the years but today while

doing so I figured one of you may know a better way.  I have always 

wound up removing the studs by the transaxle (a pain) because the 

half shaft would not compress enough to clear the bolts. I do remove

the zerk fitting to allow the excess grease to escape. Is it my car 

or me or is this just the way it is.  ALSO, there are lock washers under

the lock nuts which fit poorly. It looks as though someone put then

there to keep the nut to keep the nuts from biting into the flange. 

Surely a small O.D. flat washer that fit the spotfaced location would

be preffered in my mind. Any thoughts?



thanks, John Haas

#4308