How many people are actually getting this "Re-torque nuts and bolts of drive shaft" done?

What can happen if you don't?

 

google "image of broken drive shaft"

not a mechanic, but I'm guessing there are a lot of forces on a drive shaft that may loosen the nuts and bolts and a recommended maintenance procedure would be to verify factory torque reducing the possibility of damage or potential bodily injury.

Back in the 80's I had a front drive shaft break loose on a pickup truck, not a pleasant experience in the middle of winter.

 

every one on this forum is saying the re-torque is never done tho...so I'm confused...

 

Is your fear it's not necessary? Or performing this service is harmful? Or you wish NOT to pay someone to perform this maintenance?

When I look through the maintenance "Recommendations" for my vehicle, retorqueing the nuts and bolts is shown periodically in the list. I expect the service tech at Lexus to perform that routine maintenance when I bring the vehicle in according the published schedule. However, when they have my car up in the air on the hoist, I don't watch them inspect the RX so I have no idea if the work is actually performed. I trust that it is done to factory spec.

 

I agree with David. I let Lexus perform the recommended service and all that entails -- no more, no less, and I've had great reliability with all my Lexi since 1995. I never worry about my Lexus. If I were performing my own maintenance or using someone else to do it beyond the dealer, I'd ensure each item in the recommended service manual were accomplished.

 

The issue I have is I can do everything else they recommend on my own (15K mile service). So what is a person to do? Do their own oil/filter changes and take the vehicle in for one seemingly minor service. Or, take the vehicle in and let the dealer charge a fortune for all the services. Also to consider is this is at the 15K mile interval, which does not align with an oil change half the time.

Since we bought the vehicle CPO with just under 14K miles and an oil change/inspection had just occured, I made the decision to let this go until 20K miles when I'll have the vehicle in for service and the comp oil change. After that, I'm not sure how I'll proceed.

Does anyone have a procedure for re-torquing these bolts for the DIY type. I do have multiple torque wrenches and could easily do it myself if the bolts are accessible without too much trouble.


Posted from ClubLexus.com App for Android

 

I think that the techs often over look the fact that I have an AWD and it needs to be re-torqued. I just want to make sure they do it.

 

I'm a firm believer in honesty is the best policy, ask them to show you. Many if not all of them will say their insurance or company policy does not allow customers / clients in the service area. There's no harm in asking, "where is the drive shaft and how do you check to torque on the bolts?". Ask in a non-adversarial manner of real interest and see what they say.