Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:31:42 -0400
Reply-To:     Ed <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose

The axle nut should be torqued to 360 ft lbs.  This is equivalent to a 180
lb person standing on a breaker bar (with or without a cheater pipe) 2' from
the socket.  You should stand very carefully and gently on the wrench with
all your weight.  Do not jump up and down or you risk breaking the flex
handle or the socket slipping off the nut.  The wrench handle may bend "like
a spring" but if it doesn't break it still transmits the torque when the
force is applied in a steady state.  180 lbs x 2 feet equals the required
360 ft lbs.  If you are using a 4 foot pipe, you only need to put 90 lbs
force on the pipe at the 4 foot mark.

Ed




On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:16:33 -0700, M. Jade <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> 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.