2001 Freightliner Century Breaking Flywheel Bolts

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by irishluck09, Jan 20, 2025.

  1. irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    so 2001 Century.
    Detroit 60. around 500HP
    13 speed
    Pulling 48 flat legal weight.
    300" wheel base with 3-piece drive shaft

    A little over a month ago the truck went down as it wouldnt engage the clutch. Towed to shop and found that 2 bolts had broken in the bell housing, 2 were still tight (bottom 2 bolts) and the rest had backed out. Installed all brand new bolts with blue locktight except the 2 broken ones.
    A week later they had backed out again except the 2 bottom ones. Red locktight the bolts and reinstalled.
    I think were about 3 weeks later and now all the bolts have since broken except the bottom 2 bolts and has separated the flywheel housing again. Bolts are grade 8.

    What the hell is going on?
    We did air the truck up and measure the angle on the shafts and they are only .1-.3* but I feel like if that was the case of the driveshaft angle then this would have happened over a year ago when I bought the truck.
     
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  3. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Did you replace the flywheel housing and bell housing? Aluminum bell housing?

    One of them, or more likely both of them, need to be replaced.

    Driveline angle is not causing your issue.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  4. irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    But why would it need to be replaced? The bolts are breaking. There has to be an underline issue here.
     
  5. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Bolts break because it's getting loose. No other reason. It getting loose because you likely have an issue where I mentioned, the face of both are probably damaged.

    You're really just wasting time looking anywhere else.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
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