Thread: propshaft bolt problem

2001 TD5 Defender

So I had the front propshaft disconnected for reasons, and thought while it was off I'd replace the shoddy old bolts and nuts. I bought some from an online retailer, which came in an OEM bag.

When I did them up, initially with fingers then with a ratchet once the nyloc bit, they did up fine but once they hit the point where I'd expect to switch to the torque wrench, all 4 got much easier to turn and felt like they'd started stripping.

I managed to get 3 off, but the 4th one is still on. it turns, but doesn't move out.

I put 3 old bolts back on and they snugged up and torqued fine. There's something off with these new bolts/nuts.

So a few things:

* Is it safe to drive local roads on 3 (and a half) propshaft bolts to a hoist to get this bolt ground/split off?

* Any techniques you'd try to get it off at home?

* Is there any known issue with newer bolts with a slightly longer (1-2 threads) unthreaded throat? It feels like it hit the unthreaded throat before it had a chance to snug up, and then stripped itself on.

Cheers

OK thanks, I managed to get it off with a combination of drilling the flat with a cobalt bit, chiseling the nut apart and wedging it with a flathead while turning it out.

The old bolt went on and torqued straight up.

Turns out when I went back through my receipts, I got the bolts from an online retailer, 8 for $12 including nuts. Don't buy cheap propshaft bolts! Get genuine/OEM and save yourself the pain.