Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:00:27 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
Comments: To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <002f01cb0a34$1c3c1d70$54b45850$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I guess I'm wondering what happened to the cotter pin in all these
scenarios?  The "last line of defense" wasn't there for some reason.

Not really food for thought,but.....
DM&FS

At 08:35 AM 6/12/2010, Tom Hargrave wrote:
>This was with an old air cooled but should still apply.
>
>Years ago I had a problem with one of my axle nuts loosening up and I could
>not figure out why. I even replaced the nut.
>
>The 'light came on' when I swapped my hubs from left to right and the
>problem also swapped from left to right.
>
>It turns out that the splines were worn on the inside of the hub that was
>loosening up.
>
>Tom
>www.towercooler.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
>David Beierl
>Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 2:32 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
>
>At 02:39 AM 6/12/2010, M. Jade wrote:
> >If the noise does go away does it mean the axle is OK?
>
>This is beyond what I know.  My *guess* is that if it goes away and stays
>away, you've gotten away with it.
>
> >When I said loose it's not like you can turn it by hand. You have to
> >turn it by a wrench (1/2" drive 2 feet long bar).
>
>If you get the wrench horizontal, and stand on the very extreme end of it
>with 180 lb / 82 kg that will give you the correct torque.  The wrench has
>to be horizontal.
>
> >  So I don't feel the splines on the axle are damaged.
>
>If they're moving against each other they're certainly not doing each other
>any good.
>
> >The question in my mind is is it possible the axle is going to break
> >off. I know it is probably not very likely. But does it ever happen to
> >anyone to have a broken axle? Last time they were loose I turned the
> >nuts probably 1/12 turn. Now they were turned again 1/12 turn.
> >Something must be wearing out inside or the axle is pulled so hard and
> >about to break off. Again this is probably not likely. But I am
> >concerned really.
>
>I cannot answer this.  Maybe someone on the list can, but not I, sorry.
>
>Yours,
>David