Broken half shaft Bolts

[SuzieCamry]

88 Camry - Japanese built - flange mounted half shafts.

Last year I replaced the half shafts and struts as the originals were past their prime. August 8th of this year drove 20 miles to work, pulled into my parking spot and heard a clang. Turns out all 6 bolts had sheared in two. Bought grade Automotive grade (I believe 8.8) hardware from Lowe's and put it back together.

Things were just fine until tonight. As soon as I pulled into the driveway at home, same noise. When I put it in reverse another clang. Shut the car off, looked under the car to find the 6 bolts gone (one on the concrete below the car.)

Has anyone experienced this before? Also, while searching for similar threads I read about the 2-splined half shafts being used by pulling out the flange part (if I read correctly.) I actually purchased the 2-splined shafts and still have them.

[Doctor J]

Just double checking, is it v-6 (4 cylinder are having nuts)?
Assuming that the bolts were torqued correctly, I will recommend to check the differential operation and axle to the stub shaft alignment.

[SuzieCamry]

Yes, V-6. You could be right about the axle alignment. I would think both sides would be affected if that were the case.

[white90dx]

That's very odd. I have put nearly 300hp through stock V6 Camry axles on a prepared drag strip (very sticky, with sticky tires) many times without those parts failing.

My guess is that the bolts are coming loose in time and failing that way. This is what happens with the MR2 Turbo guys (very similar axle setup). Buy the correct socket-head bolts from Toyota with the C-washers and torque them correctly. After that, make sure you re-check them every few hundred miles for a while.

Good luck!

-Charlie