Chevrolet Repair: 1992 Chev Astro Van Flex Plate, lock tite, flex plate

Question
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Followup To
Question -
My mechanic has had to replace my flex plate every year for the past 3 years. I first start noticing that there is a knocking noise when I idle that keeps getting louder & louder until it's too embarrassing to drive it anymore. My mechanic tried replacing it with a different brand this time- he can't figure out why it keeps failing. He was wondering if this is a problem with faulty manufacturing of the 92 astro van.
Answer -
What part of the flex plate is the damage occurring at ?.
It is cracking in a circular pattern around the bolt holes.


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Answer
I have seen this spide webbing effect on numerous vehicles and not just vans. What is causing it I have YET to find out.

When he replaces the flex plate is ghe using LOCK-TITE on the bolts BEFORE he torques them to specifications ?.

Also on some models there is a lrage flat washer that has all the bolt holes drilled into it and it goes on between the flex plate and the bolts. Sometimes mechanics forget to install this washer when they replace the first flex plate and or ir is cracked and they don't bother replacing it.

Are the teeth on the broken flex plate wheree the starter bendix engages badly worn when he replaces the flex plate ?. as this could be a sign of a faulty indexing of the bendix into the flex plate due to mis-alignment of the starter or a worn bendix.



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