Newbie issue: Hub nut too tight?

[xphile]

Hi everyone!

1995 4x4 Ford Explorer owner here.
I was feeling bold this week and decided I wanted to have a stab at changing my own bearings...it has been trickier than I had hoped.

My problem is at square one...I want to loosen my hub nut, and have tried doing so with an impact wrench to no avail. I'm sure I'm using the correct (32mm) socket, but when I try to loosen it, it makes a noise like its just rattling around instead of acutally loosening the nut.

Is it possible that the last people who worked on it over-tightened the nut?
That (according to my research), may have caused the bearing problem in the first place?

So how do I get the damn thing off?

I'd really appreciate any advice - thanks in advance!!

 

[JDraper]

Welcome to the forum!

Actually, on your truck you can't service the bearings, they are a sealed unit along with the hub. You have to replace the whole hub.

As for how tight it is.....I'm not surprised you can't loosen it with a regular impact wrench. They come from the factory at about 180 Ft-lbs of torque and are Loctited in place. best bet is to leave the tire on with all the truck weight on it and use a LARGE breaker bar to get it loose. I used a 4' long bar on my '01 when I changed the hubs.

You should also invest in either a Haynes or Chiltons repair manual. For about $17 it gives you lots of good info and tips on how to work on the vehicle. These manuals are aimed at the home mechanic with lots of pix.


One last thing. I moved this post to the appropriate forum. Please read each forums rules before posting. You had this in the tech tips and corners and the rules for it are:

This forum is where professional automotive technicians or skilled automotive hobbyists can share their tech tips. Do not post your questions here! Post in the forum best suited to your topic. Questions posted in this forum will be deleted!

Since you're a newb : you got off easy and I just moved it for ya.

 

[xphile]

Yikes, that sounds big (replacing entire hub)...although the parts I got might actually be just that...I was following an online tutorial.
Chilton's sounds like a good investment, I will certainly look into it.

Thanks for the info!

 

[gijoecam]

It's almost impossible to over-torque that nut... The nut clamps the two inner races against each other, so no matter how much torque you put on it beyond the spec, it's not actually going to tighten the bearings.

I pressed one of mine apart a while back just to see what makes it tick:

The shoulder of the outer CV joint buts up against the face of the flange on the right, and the nut on the end of the CV joint locks it in place.

As for breaking that nut loose, just because you're using an impact wrench doesn't mean it's going to come apart. Most people over-estimate the ability of an impact to loosen a bolt. Leverage is key in this case. A good breaker bar with a cheater pipe is likely the order of the day. That's what I needed for mine the last time I removed 'em.

-Joe

 

[jose22]

I did it with a breaker bar with little problems.

Before that I was trying with a regular wrench with no luck of course.

 

[xphile]

Thanks so much for the help guys, I finally got myself a breaker bar and felt the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that accompanies minor mechanical triumphs!

I managed to get the caliper off, and the break pad...but now I have the problem of removing the caliper support frame...the nuts are SOOOOOO rusted. I tried with all my might to get them off with no joy - I don't have a lift so can't get much leverage...

Any more tips would be hugely appreciated!!!

 

[JDraper]

PB Blaster. Soak the threads for a while and then try again.

 

[Ray Lobato]

PB Blaster. Soak the threads for a while.......

After doing the above, tap on the nuts with a small hammer. Not hard, but light taps for a minute or so. The combination of PB Blaster and multiple impacts help to break apart the corrosion.

 

[skoal_mint]

a impact wrench will take it off, iv never had problems with the hundreds of hubs i changed.

it may come out slow but it'll come...just dont touch the nut after becasue they get supper hot