Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:35:07 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
Comments: To: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <721008.58794.qm@web62304.mail.re1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 01:19 AM 6/12/2010, M. Jade wrote:
>My rear wheels have been making rumbling noise. According to my past
>experience I know it is the axle nuts that are probably loose. So I
>finally checked them today. Sure enough they are loose. I tightened
>them until I could not turn further. I do not have a torque wrench
>so I am sure I did not apply enough torque.

Dear M. Jade,

If your axle nuts aren't tight enough, the hub will slip on the axle
splines and damage both of them.  It sounds as though this has
already happened and the hubs and axles may need to be
replaced.  It's necessary to be sure that you have axle nuts with ten
slots (rather than the older ones with six).  You must tighten them
to 360 lb-ft / 500 Newton-meters and then additionally tighten until
the next slot lines up with the hole for the cotter pin.  The main
risk is that the drive axles will no longer be able to power the
wheels reliably, or that the nut itself might possibly fail in which
case the wheel would depart from the vehicle.

This is not something you can be casual about.  If you cannot tighten
them properly yourself you must get someone to do it for you.

Yours,
David