Why is it so difficult to remove the spindle nut?

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

I tried impact wrench, long breaker bar with extended pipe, PB buster, turning counter-clockwise (left loosy right tighty) and it just didn't bother. I thought it was crossed threaded so I took it to a mechanic, it took him all but 30 seconds to take it off and only 40 mins to install the rubber on the CV boot. I didn't see how he took it off, so now I tried again to remove it, and still not having any success. So What am I doing wrong here? I borrow the 1/2 inch socket and 1/2 inch breaker bar from Autozone. I notice that all impact sockets are black, the one I borrow is silver...does it matter? I really gave it all when I turned manually. With the impact wrench, the socket just spins around the nut and i made sure it fits tightly too. So...any help?

 

[franksta]

Maybe it was a left-handed thread so your lefty loosey was really hammering it on even further?

The black impact sockets are a different metal (chrome vanadium sounds right) designed to stand up to impact use. Standard sockets on my impact gun are a gamble I won't take.

Was the socket rounded out? Having it just spin around the nut doesn't make any sense, that or the nut was rounded off.

 

[radioouman]

On my Dakota, it is torqued to 150 ft-lbs. I used a breaker bar to get it loose and tighten it back up.

 

[StageLeft]

It would appear you just didn't try hard enough if he did it that quickly. I have a pretty powerful impact wrench, but have not tried it for these.

I've undone a few of them and I use a breaker bar along with another few feet of pipe. Even then, I'm quite strong and have to put a great deal of force into lifting that badboy off the ground. Each time I've done it I've expected something to snap before the bolt came loose, but that hasn't happened yet.

Ultimately, you could take the spindle nut off a great massive caterpillar without much effort if you had a long enough pipe/breaker bar and something at the other end didn't snap.

 

[Vetterin]

Usually it's easier to install the nut because you only have to torque it to 181 lb*ft. To remove it, however I would estimate that it takes 400+ lb*ft. Most mechanics will use a 3/4" drive 1-7/16" socket with a 3-1/2' breaker bar.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The reason it's so difficult is because if they came off on their own, it would be very very bad.

 

[NutBucket]

Dunno why...on my Honda I was easily able to use an electric impact to take those nuts off. It was the crank pulley bolt that was a pain to loosen on that car.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
It would appear you just didn't try hard enough if he did it that quickly. I have a pretty powerful impact wrench, but have not tried it for these.

I've undone a few of them and I use a breaker bar along with another few feet of pipe. Even then, I'm quite strong and have to put a great deal of force into lifting that badboy off the ground. Each time I've done it I've expected something to snap before the bolt came loose, but that hasn't happened yet.

Ultimately, you could take the spindle nut off a great massive caterpillar without much effort if you had a long enough pipe/breaker bar and something at the other end didn't snap.

Ayup. Archimedes once said that with a long enough lever and a fulcrum, he could move the world.

 

[steppinthrax]

I remember the spindle nut on my Nissan was seized so bad you woudn't believe. I have a 13" breaker bar with a 1/2" 30mm socket. I broke two sockets!!!!. I didn't have enough fulcrum with just the 13". I actually had to use a iron pipe from HD and put it on the breaker bar. I had to then buy something similar to a firemans wrench with a 1" 30mm socket and attach a 5' iron pipe to it. The nut finally popped lose.

I tried PB catalyst, heating it, everthing.

That particular wheel had a bad bearing. I think someone over tightened before to cause the problem...

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The reason it's so difficult is because if they came off on their own, it would be very very bad.

That can't happen.

They're held on by an eensy teensy little cotter pin.

 

[alkemyst]

eat your wheaties kid!

if an impact wrench can get it off a 1/2" drive socket and 3-5' of pipe on a BREAKER BAR (not rachet) should work.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
I remember the spindle nut on my Nissan was seized so bad you woudn't believe. I have a 13" breaker bar with a 1/2" 30mm socket. I broke two sockets!!!!. I didn't have enough fulcrum with just the 13". I actually had to use a iron pipe from HD and put it on the breaker bar. I had to then buy something similar to a firemans wrench with a 1" 30mm socket and attach a 5' iron pipe to it. The nut finally popped lose.

I tried PB catalyst, heating it, everthing.

That particular wheel had a bad bearing. I think someone over tightened before to cause the problem...

13" breaker bar is nothing. You need at least 24" - 30" breaker bar.

 

[BlackTigers]

MAKE SURE it's not staked. The nuts on my Escort were staked down (the nut was bent into a slot - meaning it can't turn).

If you don't unstake it, you can't spin it off.


Also, when I got the two of them off my car, I used a 24" breaker bar and a jack handle.

 

[Turin39789]

36 mm spindle nut? hard to remove?

VW beetle?

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

No it's a 98 Honda Accord.

I unstake the nut already. Maybe I will try again today but I am not getting my hope up.

Btw, are PB buster and WD-40 the same thing? I tried PB buster, mabye I should give WD-40 a try too?

 

[bruceb]

Use the sturdiest socket you have with the largest square drive available. For example a 3/4 square drive breaker bar and socket can take more torque than a 1/2 or 3/8 inch socket and breaker bar. An impact gun, either electric or air will do wonders. I own a Rockwell 1/2 inch drive electric impact gun that can go up to about 200 LB/FT of torque. If all else fails, Snap On makes a very special tool called the X4 Torque Multiplier ... but it is not cheap and is mainly intended for shops that have a repeated need to loosen or tighten very large bolts. This unit can generate up to 1000 LB/FT of torque.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog...apon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Squisher]

What were you turning against?

If it was the internal differential or if you had the tire on the ground that could be the problem. You need to be turning against something solid.

You did good on the turning end by going to a solid breaker bar, but maybe the other side was cushioning your torque. You need to apply your force in as sudden a motion as possible.

You need to make the hub rock solid. Like a big ass c-clamp on the rotor or a even bigger ass pipe wrench on the hub.

Note: big ass is a technical term, although you might have needed a bigger ass.

 

[BlackTigers]

Have someone sit in the car, and have them floor the brake pedal. This will solidify your wheel, that way you aren't spinning it against your diff.

Slide a jack handle over your breaker bar. It'll come off.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

Originally posted by: Squisher
What were you turning against?

If it was the internal differential or if you had the tire on the ground that could be the problem. You need to be turning against something solid.

You did good on the turning end by going to a solid breaker bar, but maybe the other side was cushioning your torque. You need to apply your force in as sudden a motion as possible.

You need to make the hub rock solid. Like a big ass c-clamp on the rotor or a even bigger ass pipe wrench on the hub.

Note: big ass is a technical term, although you might have needed a bigger ass.

Sudden motion eh? That's a good advice. I will give that a try tmr.

 

[AMCRambler]

They do that so the wheels don't fall off.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
MAKE SURE it's not staked. The nuts on my Escort were staked down (the nut was bent into a slot - meaning it can't turn).

If you don't unstake it, you can't spin it off.


Also, when I got the two of them off my car, I used a 24" breaker bar and a jack handle.

I've done at least a half dozen axles in my life and have never had to unstake a spindle nut. And yes, they were all staked down properly / far enough. The torque from your breaker bar will likely be more than enough to unstake that badboy unless it's really mashed into the keyway.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

I finally got it out. The sudden motion is real important. Lesson learned.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Colt45]

3' pipe ftw.