Mine did the same thing! It was only loose! I had to get everything from the seal forward new and any longer running it would have needed a new crank I think. I will tourqe it to spec and it will be new but I don't want to take the chance of it happening again. I will say the bolt I took out was the new design but some slug used a standard "hardware store" washer and I believe that had some bearing on my problem.
After reading all the threads I have on this one simple bolt I have never heard anyone come back and say that their new design bolt has several thousand miles of trouble free use! That is good news!


1998 Montero (CW Pack)
1979 Chevy LUV 4x4
2000 GMC 2500 4X4