Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:27:51 EDT
Reply-To: Dvdclarksn@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Clarkson <Dvdclarksn@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose-a bit long
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
BTDT-not me personally mind you but my van and my wife. I needed to have
the rear bearings replaced and didn't have any way at that time to tighten
to the proper torque. I took the Bentley, opened to the correct page, and my
van to a local mechanic to do the job along with replacing the front
struts and rear shocks (I provided all the parts for everything). They charged
me $440.00 (about 5 yrs. ago).I had no problem with their labor charge. I
still had some looseness and play after driving it so I took it back two
different times for them to check the torque. I was told that everything was as
it should be when I picked it up the last time. My wife was going to the
Old Time Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Va., about 1.5 hrs. away. I couldn't
get away from work so I didn't make it this time. She and I met for lunch
as she got back into town and agreed that we would meet back at the house
and get the van unloaded-about 5 miles away. I got home and she still was
nowhere to be seen with the van over an hour later. I then saw the van being
towed into the driveway minus one wheel. A neighbor that was close to the
whole situation (about 75 yds. from his house) towed the van to my
house-about 1.5 miles from his and didn't want to accept any money (gave him $40.00
that I had on me at the time). Unfortunately it wasn't damage free towing
(rear apron damage). I said nothing as he was a saint in being right there
before my wife completely freaked out. She was coming up a hill at around 50
mph and the right rear wheel just spun off. She laid the right rear side
down in some soft dirt on the shoulder and brought it to a safe stop. I
really wanted to go down and confront the shop about re-using a 5 cent cotter
pin and causing the accident but didn't. I just didn't know for sure what
gave out and caused the problem. I freaked out just thinking about that same
situation happening at 75 mph on Interstate 77 when she was coming home. I
got a mechanic buddy of mine to come over and help me completely redo the
job with more bearings, had to also replace the drum, backing plate and we
also replaced the cv joints and put in a AA rebuilt tranny. We used his big
gun with a torque multiplier and had no problem getting it right the first
time. Be sure you use new axle nuts and of course new pins. It's cheap
insurance and peace of mind.
David Clarkson
90 Westy 282,000 mi.
In a message dated 6/12/2010 2:02:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET writes:
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
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