Axle Nut question

[justin210485]

So i was in the process of changing the bearing on an 02 explorer. But i cant get the axle nut off because it spins. The shaft is not spinning but the nut and stud are? I think im missing something but im tired so i duno. Please enlighten me. Thanks for any help

 

[TechGuru]

I'd need video of this. It makes no sense, lol.

 

[Number4]

Are you saying that the portion of the hub with the five studs is spinning?

 

[TechGuru]

Are you saying that the portion of the hub with the five studs is spinning?

If so he has a broken CV joint in the axle.

I suggest getting the nut loose with the brakes still installed. Engage the parking brake, if it slips have someone hold the brake pedal.

 

[justin210485]

Tire on, breaks on. Nut and stud that the nut is on spins. Not easly but spins to where the nut will not come loose. Only thing i can think of is that becuase its AWD first that the front clutch's are not engaged so thats why its spinning? or maby the hub or cv joint threads are gone? Im going to put it in 4wd high and see what happens.

 

[shucker1]

Sounds like a stripped wheel stud to me...

 

[drdoom]

Geez that sounds bad.

 

[justin210485]

So if its the front wheel spindle that's broken, what would need to be replaced? Cv axle shaft? Im assuming that the 3 bolts holding the wheel bearing on are holding it together?

 

[TechGuru]

Are we talking about the axle nut or a wheel lug nut here? No way the axle nut could be spinning with the axle shaft with the wheel on the ground, brakes on, etc unless the hub is stripped. To lock the front axle in park you'll need to have the engine running and 4x4 hi on.

 

[justin210485]

Are we talking about the axle nut or a wheel lug nut here? No way the axle nut could be spinning with the axle shaft with the wheel on the ground, brakes on, etc unless the hub is stripped. To lock the front axle in park you'll need to have the engine running and 4x4 hi on.

Spindle nut and stud not wheel stud. Car on, 4hi on, wheel on the ground axle shaft is not spinning just the axle nut and stud that its on. i will post a video here in a sec.

 

[justin210485]

here is a video https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EBNLGoq6pYMjDqCLYs0sL7cscMWlrmVVoA/view?usp=sharing As you can see no matter how much i turn it the threads show no movement from the stud.

 

[NineFootNails]

That "stud" in the middle of that nut IS your axle. I believe the base of the nut has a captive washer which may not spin as you turn the axle nut. The axle shaft has a relatively fine thread so it will take many turns to spin the nut off entirely.

IF the axle is spinning with the nut (which would be difficult to tell since it is in the socket while turning the nut) then you've got some bigger issues going on.

Good luck.

-Devlin

 

[TechGuru]

Ya keep turning it...

The only way to tell if the axle is turning with the nut is to use some paint or white out to mark the axle and nut in the same place and give it a turn and see if the marks are still lined up.

 

[MAS Tequila]

Take some paint or the wife/girlfriends nail polish and put on the threads and the nut then turn with the socket.

That will tell you if both are turning.

That nut has to make a lot of revolutions to come off.

It takes several seconds with the impact, so I can understand why you think it's not making progress.

Was it tight, did you have to use a lot of force to get it to move?

How is the other side?

Like was said before, the CV or the axle could be broken.

But I think you would be able to feel and or hear that.

Keep us posted.

Good Luck

MT

 

[Number4]

lol I'm kinda with everyone else. Go ahead and Jack the front up and remove the wheel. This will give you a better view of everything. Seems like it's coming off? Try the paint on the threads idea.

 

[shucker1]

Saw Video.

You may want to spray some PB Blaster on the threads after you try the paint trick.

It will make you life easier.

Threads look kind of rusty.

 

[justin210485]

Not only did I turn it many revolutions to the left but also quite a few to the right. So it would get tight you would think as well as u should see some wear on the threads where rust was removed. I'm pretty sure it's broken in the CV axle boot

 

[justin210485]

Just a little more explanation. Before I did anything I loosened the nut then the wheel nuts. I jacked it up and removed the wheel. Removed the brake caliper. Attempted to remove the axle nut but it would just spin no matter how many times I tried. So then I put everything back together and it still spins. Granted I dont remember but I'm pretty sure it wasn't tight when I tried before removing the wheel. When the wheel was off. The axle was not spinning when turning the nut. Just the nut and the stud as I call it.

 

[Number4]

Without being able to push the axle through the bearing a little, it'll be hard if not impossible to remove the three bolts that keep the hub to the knuckle.

You may have the cut chunks out of the hubs mounting ears (wear the bolts thread through from the other side) on the outside of the knuckle. Then the whole piece should come out. After you've battled the black goo with a death grip that's between the hub bearing and the knuckle.

Edit: the axle joint end won't come through the knuckle.

 

[intelisevil]

Not only did I turn it many revolutions to the left but also quite a few to the right. So it would get tight you would think as well as u should see some wear on the threads where rust was removed. I'm pretty sure it's broken in the CV axle boot

I'm only familiar with the Gen 2 front axles and hub assemblies so I may be completely off base here.

Assuming that the axle shaft is splined to the hub assembly (like the Gen 2 fronts are) I think you've got a bigger problem here. From everything you've described I think your outer CV joint it broken AND your splines have some how sheared off?

I don't see how this could happen but there's no way the end of your axle would spin inside of your hub otherwise.

You might have to remove the knuckle assembly and CV axle as a unit and take it to a machine shop. Some of the pictures in this thread might help if you have to go that route: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251915

Keep in mind I've never touched a Gen 3 so I might be completely wrong.

Good Luck,