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Broken Spindle Stud!

huskyfan23

Rah no Hans Bwix
Joined
November 21, 2002
Messages
6,695
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7
City, State
WA
Year, Model & Trim Level
1994 XLT 4x4
Finishing up the ball joint replacement. We checked the Haynes, couldn't find anything in the torque specs about spindle nuts. We went with 100 pounds torque. Moved smoothly the whole way, then a stud snapped. What are these nuts supposed to be torqued to? How bad is it pounding out the stud and replacement?
 



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so the ball joint stud snapped
 






No. The stud on the steering knuckle. Slide the axle shaft in and nuts hold the spindle on using these studs.
 






oh gotcha!!

Yes I have replaced those and just tap them out. as far as torque specs I just tighten them like I do the lug nuts on a tire. Once I found the specs but since have lost them so I do it this way.

Also apply a little of the stuff you put on the caliper slide pins to the face of the spindle so it makes it easier to come off the next time.
 






Are they special studs? Will I have to get these from the dealer?
 






dont know I got mine off a spare knuckle I had
 






The specs are in the haynes manual, but in some other section.. The specs call for 40-50 ft/lbs.. So you really over tightened them...
 






Yeah, just a little bit :cool: No big deal, heading down to the stealer tomorrow. Do they still use these same studs nowadays or will I have to special order? I see why Sears wanted $770 to do this, but I'm glad I did, learned a lot of stuff.
 






Oh man 100 is too much! I was surprised at the number too, I dont use a torque wrench but I believe they are about 50# only on the spindle to knuckle studs..
 






Yeah, I sorta figured that out the hard way.. I couldn't find the torque specs so I just tightened it as tight as I could get it with a 3/8". My neighbor was telling me it's probably at least 100 considering the weight it has to hold up.
 






Na they overkill it by using 5 of them....

plus they are lock nuts, the acorn shaped ones.
I just use my 3/8" drive like you and go around that sucker about 15 times till they are all "more than snug" (my torque wrench is my brain) criss cross pattern is important here.....
 






Yes, I at least did the star pattern ;)
 






The studs don't support any weight as the spindle is hub centric. The inner lip of the spindle that goes into the steering knuckle holds all the weight.
 






I see. Well .. it's a neighbor, not an ASE mechanic :p I went to the dealer, studs are $8 a piece! Of course this dealer, nor any in the area had them, so they've been ordered. Should come tomorrow. I'm anxious to get this thing back together.
 






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