Tool to remove driveshaft

[stevenf]

What do you call thoughs star bolts( inverted stars) that hold the driveshaft to the pinion flange? I dont want to strip these with regular sockets.

 

[lil red]

you mean inverted torx? not sure, but 6 points is inverted yorx, and 12 is just a 12 point bolt, that a 12 point wrench or socket would take off

 

[pillen140]

Its a 12point socket.

 

[stevenf]

Thats it, Thanks.
They are awful expensive to only need them for the flange adapters.

 

[mjonesjr]

the rear drive shaft flange bolts are 12mm 12 point sockets.

The front uses torx bolts. That is NOT the only place on a vehicle you will use torx bits. Do yourself a favor and buy a small set of them.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Thats it, Thanks.
They are awful expensive to only need them for the flange adapters.

You can use any old 12mm box end wrench to remove the bolts, you don't need a socket.

 

[MAKG]

the rear drive shaft flange bolts are 12mm 12 point sockets.

The front uses torx bolts. That is NOT the only place on a vehicle you will use torx bits. Do yourself a favor and buy a small set of them.

The only sizes I've found are T-55, T-30, and E-7. Have you found any others?

Get GOOD ones. Shearing off the Lisle crap sockets in your head bolts will cause no end of headaches.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Yea I have broken a lot of the craftsman torx drive units in my front shaft, I am glad that they warrant them.

 

[Sunk]

I got tired of trying to find the right bit for the front shaft bolts, so I replaced them with some 6 points. Problem solved.

 

[mjonesjr]

The only sizes I've found are T-55, T-30, and E-7. Have you found any others?

Get GOOD ones. Shearing off the Lisle crap sockets in your head bolts will cause no end of headaches.

Those are the sizes I have found too. The bed bolts, the front drive shaft bolts, and the seat belt bolts.

 

[stevenf]

I get all of my stuff from Harbor Freight. Most people tell me its crap but I have purchased EVERYTHING from them and never had anything go out. Even buffers and air compressors which get used alot!

I already have the Inverted torq socket set. I had to replace the ignition switch in my Jimmy and it required them. I didnt even think about using a box wrench, Im a moron! .
Quick question on x joints while Im at it. I have heard that most upgrade the stock ones with 760x blah blah.... Are these aftermarket ones just stronger quality but same size? If there bigger, wouldnt it require bigger u joints for them to fit?

 

[metalmacguyver]

There is a smaller torx size needed to get some manual window crank levers off. I have also seen them with philips head screws too so not all will have them.

Dont forget about the 8mm 12pt bolts that bolt the CV ends of drive shafts to yokes......

 

[hangman119]

i am looking for the bolts for the front driveshaft since we are talking about it.
the ones that connect to the transfer case.
i cant find them anywhere.
the previous owner removed them and lost them. i have heard they should be either grade 5 or grade 8.
just dont know the thread pitch or length
anyone ever replaced them?

 

[AllanD]

The fasteners I recommend for this location are 1/4"-28 thread "Ferry Cap Screws"
from Fastenal

These need to be 3/4" long.

They are smaller bolts like the other driveshaft bolts, 12-point headed black oxide grade-8 bolts, in the 1/4-28 bolts for the front driveshaft they have 1/4" 12-point external wrenching heads.

I put these on my front diff a long time ago, because I hated fighting with the T30 in the 7/16 head bolts the factory used, but somewhere around here I have a box of Allenhead 1/4-28 X 3/4" screws that are drilled for safety wire. they look real cool but screwed onto the front diff flange who is going to see them to be impressed?