Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:16:33 -0700
Reply-To: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
In-Reply-To: <00e501cb0aa8$9dfa4840$6701a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Thanks, Scott. I have been gone all day today. I was able to test my Vanagon for some 20 miles. I did not hear any rumbling noise any more. So the nuts are not too loose for now. But I am sure they are not tight enough. The total length with a metal pipe extension of my wrench, 1/2 drive and a Craftsman socket, is about 4 feet. I weigh about 180 lbs. I did not stand on the end of the wrench bar. It already bent like a spring. I can imagine it is probably a lot less than required.
They appear to be quiet now. Since I don't drive it much so I will not rush to deal with them immediately. When I get to them I may need new brake drums and wheel bearings. By then I will fully dismantle the entire axles, clean them and check them out to see if there is any sign of wear. Hope it is not too bad yet.
MJ
--- On Sat, 6/12/10, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
To: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>, vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 8:25 PM
hi,
you don't say how long your cheater bar is or how much you weigh..
but ...'normal' is like a 3 and 1/2 foot cheater bar with 170 lbs or so standing on the end of it .
if you are not making it 'that kind' of tight, you are probably not getting it tight enough.
it's unlikely, as least 'normally' that something is giving away slowly ..
you are tightening just inner bearing races and a spacer ..just solid metal.
and I can't image the drum is crumbling ...but the rust I've sometimes ......wow.
probably not getting it tight enough.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 10:19 PM
Subject: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
> 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.
>
> The questions is I did this once less than a year ago. I turned as much as I could until I could not turn further the nuts. I installed the cotter pins properly I believe. I am surprised to find that they are so loose today. I turned them about 30 degree each then put in new cotter pins again. Is there anything that may be wearing out in the axle? With the cotter pins in there the nuts can not possibly turn back out. Last time I tightened them as much as I could until I could not turn any further. But today I found I could turn another 30 degree further. Does this mean something is wearing out inside? Is there any risk if I drive it as is for now until maybe they get loose again?
>
> Thanks in advance for any expert tips here.
