First Post - 915 Stub Axle question
 

Hi All,
I'm new to the forum and new to the Porsche community with a recently acquired '79 SC that's in need of a complete resto. I'm just in the beginning phase of the teardown and I'm preparing to drop the engine and trans. As I was removing the half-shafts yesterday, I discovered that the passenger side started to leak quite a bit of trans lube as the first few bolts were removed, indicating that the CV boot was full of gear oil. At the same time, I noticed that the entire driven flange was able to move away from the trans as far as the half shaft would allow it to move. When I finally got the CV joint unbolted from the flange, I found that the center bolt that secures the stub shaft to the differential is missing....
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1163956099.jpg
The splined shaft and the its mating surfaces don't appear to show any signs of obvious wear patterns as a result of this omission, but I'll know more when I get a chance to mic all of the machined surfaces.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1163956926.jpg

I have no history on this car and it's been sitting in storage for an unknown number of years.

Is there any good reason why anyone would intentionally not install that retention bolt? I can't think of one, any thoughts?

Mike

Theories:
1) they lost it and didn't want to spend the money/time to obtain a replacement.
2) they over torqued it and broke off the bolt in the differential; can you detect any bolt remnants down in the hole?
3) too many beers.

Thanks for the reply Jim. I like all of your theories, but I consider #2 to be the most likely. I can't really see well enough inside to make a determination yet, but I plan on opening it up once its out to check for sure. It wouldn't surprise me if that's what happened, from what I can tell, the PO (deceased) wasn't much of a perfectionist, or house keeper. I'll report my findings when I know more.

Mike

Some further information on these 915 output flange retainer bolts and their proper torque may be found in this thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=273916&highlight=washer +torque

Thanks very much for the link, good info.

Mike