Girl needs help getting spindle nut loose

[emtard]

Well, hopefully someone remembers me posting how I needed help fixing my hubs.... I got the hubs off, and I took everything apart (including the TINY key that's needed to come off the take off the spindle nut). Everything is off but this stupid spindle nut!

We've tried brake cleaner to get it off, we bought a 2-3/8 socket for it, but whenever we try, it's like it's stuck... it won't even budge.

We're using someone's garage, and we think they have air tools, but we can't find them yet. Any ideas on what I can do to get this stupid thing off? It's slid so much that the traction on the side is wearing down and it's starting to get harder to pull (if you get that at all).

HELP PLEASE!!!!!

 

[94fourdoor]

Try heating the nut with a torch or equivalent. Maybe try a hammer and a flat head screwdriver. It's also possible that the bearing has welded itself to the nut due to friction. Keep us informed and good luck!

 

[94fourdoor]

Also, try a short pipe slid over the ratchet handle. It can help with more torque against the nut.

 

[emtard]

We've been using a ton of brake cleaner on it, if we use a torche, could it explode? We can't do it outside either because it's snowy and icy, plus the tire is off.

From the looks of it, the bearing seems to be seperate. We ran a flat head around the edge of it and nothing is stuck around the edges. However, when I took a better look at it, there was a small dent on it that I got out with a screwdriver and there seems to be some sludge built up inside the thread. I don't know if it's sludge or metal because these hubs were HORRIBLE.

 

[emtard]

Also, try a short pipe slid over the ratchet handle. It can help with more torque against the nut.

Yeah, we did try that one too... it just seems that whenever we try to get it to come off, it slips and causes the metal around it to wear and therefor not have those edges that the socket grips onto.

 

[RockcrawlerEX]

Hammer on a smaller socket, you're stripping the nut. Be prepared to get a new one.

[edit] A new nut, btw.

 

[94fourdoor]

Good idea with the smaller socket. Also, try tightening it a little first, then loosening. And if you let the fumes die out from the brake clean, you should be fine. If the smaller socket starts to strip as well, weld the socket directly to the nut, being careful not to get any slag on the threads of the spindle.

 

[OneLever]

We've been using a ton of brake cleaner on it, if we use a torche, could it explode?

DO NOT HEAT BRAKE CLEANER


Warning explanation link

If you have already applied it make sure it is cleaned off before heating.

 

[emtard]

Alright, we tried a propane torche and that did not work either :? it's being so stubborn! We are sure that we took everything off that needed to come off. The bearings in the back are shot, but are not connected to the nut at all.

It didn't explode, but I had my boyfriend do that part because I get uncomfortable around fumes/fire....

 

[Lacky01]

Is there a breaker bar around? a pipe and a breaker bar should make quick work of it. the nut was torqued to 200ft/lbs ish when installed and will take at least that to remove. you just need leverage, and the right size socket.

 

[emtard]

well, we are pretty sure it's the right sized socket according to the "how to guide to change rotors/brakes" and it was the exact year/model of ours. we got a 2-3/8 socket, and it definitely fits, but when we get it on and turn it, it slips.

we've been trying those bars, but all it does is slip off. my brother-in-law helped us the other night on it and he said that the hubs were so shot that is deformed some of the metal. i think that might have a BIG part to do with it. we don't have the money to get it fixed by a shop, and my brother-in-law can do it, but he's busy with work.

i just want this SOB off!

 

[Lacky01]

hmmm... if its slipping off, its probably not the right size socket. try grabbing a hold of it with a LARGE cresent wrench maybe? you've gotta get a hold of it to turn it.

 

[94explorerEB]

If its stuck on there like that your prolly gonna have to cut it off, maybe tack weld the socket to the nut so it won't be able to slip.

 

[Ebigger]

if you have tried everything else and rounded the nut off you might have to get a small cutting wheel/ grinder and cut it of but be really careful not to mess the threads of the spindle while doing it or you might be replaceing more then just a nut

 

[emtard]

Yeah, we tried EVERYTHING, literally. Torching, AIR TOOLS EVEN, various size wrenches/sockets, brake cleaner, "Wrench Free", pretty much anything you can think possible to get a nut loose, we have done it.

So, we're thinking somehow it is fused on there. I don't know how, how the hell did the previous owners DO this? I don't know.... I don't know.....

Cutting it seems like the only possibly option right now, but I am really not sure if we have a cutter. I know there's a large handheld saw looking thing in the garage, but I didn't see anything else.

My boyfriend was talking about replacing the spindle all together, but I know that might cost $$ and I certainly don't have hundreds of dollars to fork out of an Explorer.

If I do go about cutting it, how much would a 2-3/8 nut cost?

 

[Reejerey]

the nuts are like 5-10 bucks from ford, which is going to be pretty much the only place you can get them. Assuming you have auto hubs which it sounds like you do, that nut shouldn't be more than finger tight. Even if it was fused to the bearing, they should both come out together.

Mind taking some pictures of the situation and throwing them up? might help us to better understand whats causing you so many issues here.

 

[Maniak]

Ditto ^^^..

As long as you got the key out of there it should come right off. If the spindle threads are boogered enough to make it hard to take off then you should replace the spindle.

Used they should be well < $50. I think I sold ones of the parts rig for $25.

As for the nut, it was cheap, the trick is does the local ford dealer have a set.. I broke one when I forgot the key was there..

~Mark

 

[emtard]

I don't have a camera at the place that I am right now, but I do have a webcam. I will get a picture, but it may not be that high quality.

Oreily's has some spindle/axle nuts for a few bucks, but I have no clue whether or not they will fit on ours. I can't get it off to compare either. If I had to get a 2-3/8 socket for it, does that mean that the nut itself is 2-3/8?

It's not fused to the bearing, I think the threading inside is messed up. We just did the other tire and it was perfect. The bolts came out fine, the hub was not that messed up (we got new ones anyway so it didn't matter), new rotors and brake pads, and everything is going back on right now. I don't know what's wrong with the other one because this nut came right off!

I do think we're going to have to saw it off. It looks like it's gonna have to wait until we come back here again (me and my boyfriend are at my sister's house).

We bought new wheel bearings too.

 

[Maniak]

Post a link to the spindle nut you found at oriellys. My guess is that it is for a manual hub, not the auto hub.

This is what it should look like. (the side that goes to the bearing is up).

Dorman 13984 is the right one for an auto hub (above pic).


This one is the wrong one for automatic hubs.

I am assuming the tool you are using looks like this...

~Mark

 

[SavaX]

I just upgraded my auto hubs to the warns...the nut on the pass side spun right off but I had to get a socket for the drivers side...the drivers side one spun right off with the socket though.

Anyways I still have the auto spindle nut, if you want it you can have it, assuming you want to pay for shipping and wait for it to ship from N. Cali.