Noob question on separating block / tranny

[PanGasket]

There isn't a sudden impact like torque on the sides of those bolts. If and when they do come loose ( it happens ) there will be a knocking noise at start, stop, or both since there is a sideward impact at that instance. This fault needs to be addressed a.s.a.p. or sufficient damage to the bolts and holes will ruin them.

Will red Loctite address this issue?

 

[RedFish]

Locktite can prevent it happening in the first place. If the bolt holes in the flex plate should get egged out, the contact surface to bolt head is lost and distorted too.
Only a new flex plate and 4 new bolts would cure it.

 

[krazykuda]

There isn't a sudden impact like torque on the sides of those bolts. If and when they do come loose ( it happens ) there will be a knocking noise at start, stop, or both since there is a sideward impact at that instance. This fault needs to be addressed a.s.a.p. or sufficient damage to the bolts and holes will ruin them.

There was a thread here recently about an "off Idle" noise on a minivan. It turned out that the torque converter bolts had come loose. He torqued the bolts and was good to go.


The issue about "torque" on the side of the bolts: When a bolt is torqued, it tightens until the bolt stretches. It's kind of like pre loading a spring. When the bolt reaches clamp load, it is stretched in the "elastic" range. This is where the bolt is stretched and can "relax" back to it's original length. By putting the bolt in "clamp load" now the joint is held so tightly that it cannot move side to side and stress the bolts sideways. It's like putting two pieces of sheet metal in a vise and tightening it. Then try to remove one of the pieces of sheet metal while the vise is tight... You can't.... This is what happens with clamp load. It is held together so tightly that they cannot move in any direction, even side to side.

This is why it is important to torque these bolts to spec so they don't loosen. Loctite will also help keep them from loosening, but it is important to torque them to spec even with Loctite.

 

[RedFish]

The starter is trying to shift the position every time it engages just as if you were hitting one of your pieces of sheet metal sideways in that vise. Difference being contact area of vise jaws versus contact surface of 4 bolt heads.
This has turned into a thread highjack of sorts so.... I'm done. Good luck to all.

 

[krazykuda]

The starter is trying to shift the position every time it engages just as if you were hitting one of your pieces of sheet metal sideways in that vise. Difference being contact area of vise jaws versus contact surface of 4 bolt heads.
This has turned into a thread highjack of sorts so.... I'm done. Good luck to all.

If the bolts are properly torqued, then the metal will not be able to move.


I have calculated clamp load, it is tens of thousands of pounds of load. I have also tested the torque on joints to determine the proper torque. The starter torque will not be able to move it unless the joint loosens. If you use the proper recommended torque from the service manual, they should not come loose. Loctite will also help them from loosening from "vibrations". But it cannot substitute for not torquing properly.