Check your IRS axle nuts!

[phileas_fogg]

Resurrecting Redfish's thread www.ffcars.com/threads/check-your-irs-axle-nuts.291159/page-4#post-6098737 from the other forum.

Went for a drive last week and heard the faintest whine from the rear. Pulled the rear wheels as part of my annual maintenance routine & checked the axle nuts. Sure enough, the left side nut was loose (like ~100 ft pounds). Retourqued to 250 ft pounds & all appears to be well.

Bottom line: For you guys with the T-bird IRS, check your axle nuts!


John

[CraigS]

A good reminder John. A paint line across the end of the axle and onto the nut makes them easier to check

[phileas_fogg]

You better believe I've got a paint line now! :)

John

[NAZ]

https://www.mcmaster.com/1476T615

It goes by many names but we called it "torque-stripe" and used it on critical fasteners to show when they were starting to lose their torque. This works better than a stripe of any old paint. This is specially formulated to dry fast and be brittle so that the least movement will fracture the stripe before the fastener starts backing out. When I first started working on race cars we "ran the fasteners" actually putting a wrench on every nut and bolt and giving it a tug to ensure it was tight. Now days we use torque-stripe and simply do a visual -- no cracked stripe and you're good to go.

[alexmak]

BTW, FFR's assembly manual says to torque rear IRS axle nuts at 175ft pounds, I believe. I'm sure it's not an issue.


Resurrecting Redfish's thread www.ffcars.com/threads/check-your-irs-axle-nuts.291159/page-4#post-6098737 from the other forum.

Went for a drive last week and heard the faintest whine from the rear. Pulled the rear wheels as part of my annual maintenance routine & checked the axle nuts. Sure enough, the left side nut was loose (like ~100 ft pounds). Retourqued to 250 ft pounds & all appears to be well.

Bottom line: For you guys with the T-bird IRS, check your axle nuts!


John

[phileas_fogg]

Actually, F5 specifies 180-200 ft pounds. But the OEM spec is 250.

Either way, mine was WAAAAYYY loose.


John

[David Hodgkins]

Actually, F5 specifies 180-200 ft pounds. But the OEM spec is 250.

Either way, mine was WAAAAYYY loose.


John

Torqued mine to 250. In my case that just means "lean a little more into it".

I bet some of you guys have to do jumping jacks on the bar to get that much torque!!

:p

[RBachman]

Torqued mine to 250. In my case that just means "lean a little more into it".

I bet some of you guys have to do jumping jacks on the bar to get that much torque!!

:p

I just add in a bunch more ugga-dugga's. LOL

[ThickCobra]

Is the 2015 mustang IRS also susceptible to loosening?

[mike223]

I have not seen any reports of the 2015 IRS doing it.

Many reports over the years of the Tbird IRS loosening (usually) on left rear.

[edwardb]

Is the 2015 mustang IRS also susceptible to loosening?

I've been watching mine very closely. Installed them per the torque and angle spec and paint marked. Zero sign of any movement now starting season 4 and approaching 7K miles. Doesn't appear to be as troublesome as the previous version. But part of my annual PM exercise.

[ThickCobra]

Thanks. I will be checking mine tomorrow. Beginning 3rd season...2800 miles.

[ThickCobra]

Checked mine today. All is good,