Drive Shaft Bolt

What does the drive shaft bolt do and what happens if you don't tighten
it every so often? How much extra does that cost?

<camroy@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:27715-435B036E-116@storefull-3316.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
>
> What does the drive shaft bolt do and what happens if you don't tighten
> it every so often? How much extra does that cost?[/color]

If you mean the big nut at the wheel center, this is the stub axle with the
CV joint. This nut should NOT be working loose. Worst case is the nut comes
off, and this will, in order of damage

a) cause the stub axle to vibrate and wear out the hub splines.
b) cause the wheel bearing preload to be removed, causing quick bearing
failure
c) bearing failure causes disk rotor misalignment, could cause the brake to
jam
d) bearing could separate, causing the brake to jam.
e) brake jam and bearing separation could cause the wheel to come off in
extreme situations.
f) someone else gets injured or killed
g) you get injured or killed.

The nut should be done up to about 160 ft-lbs or so, ie damm tight, and
there's probably a split pin too. Get it fixed properly.

Stewart DIBBS