Max tow axle question….

[Michael1955]

I have a 21 max tow…although the build date is outside of the posted build dates for Ford repair, would there be any advantage to replacing the axle bolts preemptively if they have not failed? Are the replacement bolts better (assuming the failure point is the bolts) or maybe the tightening procedure has changed. Mine has 60K miles with no problems…yet…any thoughts on this. Thanks

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[Snakebitten]

Your guess is as good as anys.
I've asked myself the same thing many times. Especially every time I open my toolbox and see the replacement bolts I purchased many months ago. ?

They look so...... New.

Alas, I still haven't swapped them out. Perhaps it's like fetching an umbrella?

 

[notabot]

I have a 21 max tow…although the build date is outside of the posted build dates for Ford repair, would there be any advantage to replacing the axle bolts preemptively if they have not failed? Are the replacement bolts better (assuming the failure point is the bolts) or maybe the tightening procedure has changed. Mine has 60K miles with no problems…yet…any thoughts on this. Thanks

I'm an old fart and just now trying to learn and practice "if it ain't broke - don't fix it!!!". Hope your success to 60k goes until you don't need the truck any more!

My '21 PB with max tow axle has been good so far but I'm nowhere near 60k. I also have had the "new" bolts in my tool box for over a year...

 

[Michael1955]

Your guess is as good as anys.
I've asked myself the same thing many times. Especially every time I open my toolbox and see the replacement bolts I purchased many months ago. ?

They look so...... New.

Alas, I still haven't swapped them out. Perhaps it's like fetching an umbrella?

Looks like I’m seeing a pattern here…I guess I need a pair of axle bolts…it would be interesting to see if correct part numbers match up to what you guys have or show a revision

 

[Rinn69]

I have a 21 max tow…although the build date is outside of the posted build dates for Ford repair, would there be any advantage to replacing the axle bolts preemptively if they have not failed? Are the replacement bolts better (assuming the failure point is the bolts) or maybe the tightening procedure has changed. Mine has 60K miles with no problems…yet…any thoughts on this. Thanks

If you decide to replace them, I'd do some research to make sure they are better quality. When the head bolts on the old 6.0 Powerstroke stretched and had to be replaced under warranty, they used the same crappy bolts to "repair" it. If you were lucky to find a cool Ford mechanic, you could slip him a couple bills and the ARP head bolts for them to do the job right.

 

[bcb97]

Pretty sure I saw on another thread that a member installed ARP bolts and those broke also.

 

[minirx7]

I asked my dealer about mine (early 2021 model, Lariat 3.5L Max tow), and they said they wont fix until it breaks as it isnt a recall.

I have over 50,000 KMS with 50% of its life towing my 7000 lb RV accross Canada/US. No issues, but this makes me nervous. I cannot imagine being 2000kms away from home and my truck blows up! who covers the cost to get the RV back home!?

 

[Snakebitten]

Blows up?

A bit of hyperbole
If your truck is not inside those fence dates you can't get a dealership to even consider being proactive.

 

[minirx7]

Blows up?

A bit of hyperbole
If your truck is not inside those fence dates you can't get a dealership to even consider being proactive.

LOL! what exactly is the fence dates? Curious as my build i think was June 2021?

 

[Snakebitten]

LOL! what exactly is the fence dates? Curious as my build i think was June 2021?

Thanks for being a good sport.

 

[amschind]

My understanding was that there is still debate about what the actual flaw was/is. It seemed as though enough people with new bolts had the same issue that the "one batch of bolts were inexplicably made out of pot metal" theory has been conclusively debunked. There isn't a better theory to replace that one, but I wouldn't apply a solution until I knew what the issue is.

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

Yeah we've seen 2023s with this issue too. Its not a bolt defect but a fundamental engineering design flaw.

 

[minirx7]

Thanks for being a good sport.

Odd.. Mine is from dearborn and it is in that date range (ordered January 2021 picked up July 2021). My dealer said it was customer sat program so they wont fix it unless it broke.

 

[tony72cutlass's']

only because I haven’t created a meme for awhile

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

It appears that simply keeping a spare set of bolts in your toolbox stops them from breaking! Like a Voodoo doll in reverse! ?

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