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Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:53 pm

Does anyone have a trick or suggestion on how to easily remove the rear axle nut on a Bug? Would PB Blaster or similar product help? I'm using a breaker bar and still no luck other than damn near lifting the rear of the car off the stand.

Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:22 pm

This subject comes up pretty regularly.
Personally, I'm a big fan of the "torque tool".
Whacking on it (and your wheel bearings) with a hammer might remove the nut, but you probably will want to put it back on; at the correct torque setting.
Buy or borrow the "torque tool".

This thing will make the job 9 times easier.

Since you live in California, there are probably a bunch of these tools within a 20 mile radius of your house; maybe somebody close will chime in.

Good luck, Mondshine

Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:26 pm

There are numerous ways-------Did you use the Search engine?
You can take it to a truck tire repair facility and have them loosen with a huge impact wrench and tighten back enough to get you home.
Regular (conventional)threads on both sides------counterclockwise to loosen.
Just remember to tighten to the proper torque when you go back with it.
Marvin

Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:23 pm

You can borrow my Torque Tool if you find yourself around my neighborhood, but I figure you're a bit too north.

Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:26 pm

Removing my one as well. Using blow torch, wax and w40. Soaking it now with W40, wash the w40 off because if you heat it up again.You will get a ball of fire. :lol:

Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:32 pm

I welded a socket onto the end of a 5' chunk of pipe . . did the job admirably

Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:14 pm

GA_Boy wrote: There are numerous ways-------Did you use the Search engine?
You can take it to a truck tire repair facility and have them loosen with a huge impact wrench and tighten back enough to get you home.
Regular (conventional)threads on both sides------counterclockwise to loosen.
Just remember to tighten to the proper torque when you go back with it.
Marvin

DON"T ask me if I used the search engine? I was looking for help in the moment. This isn't my first post or first time on a forum.

I managed to remove the seized nuts with PB Blaster and an impact gun.

Thanks to all for the advice. BTW, the "torque tool" is awesome looking. I will be adding one to my tool collection.

Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:15 pm

Vinnems wrote: You can borrow my Torque Tool if you find yourself around my neighborhood, but I figure you're a bit too north.

Thank you for the offer!!

Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:55 am

John Muir says
a large pipe wrench (or cold chisel ) and a BFH.

that sets one end. for the cheap skate spectrum.

there are 10 ways
which way depends on
your cash flow.
your time line, or down time..

none of which we know.

the right torque wrench is $600 from Proto.
the torque Meister is $60 and beats them all hands down. YES 9 TIMES>

only John wins in the hippy domain./ zero bucks, and fatherinlaws tools.
or better, he gets his "freeloaders to do it" my all time fav, in his book....

getting off is easy ((no pun ,)
back on , a whole other issue.
if done wrong the drums will crack.
and if you look close, do it., imagine if said crack hit a wheel bolt hole.
dont ask. (but lots of photos here to bare witness)
'

the $5 way < hand drill in hand,
the long angle irons. x2
comes off.
then back on:
a bathroom scale and a Archimedes rule set.
then you weigh your self, (no guessing or fibbing) the placing hands
on the pre marked 300 lbs points.
you drop your body on the bar , exactly THERE. fun yet?

the second locking bar can be skipped (left side example)
with 3 fat chicks in back seat of your FAT CHICK, brakes set, 4 wheels chocked,
nose up hill going off
nose down going on.
it's is urban rumor, the chick way, YFCMV, your fat chicks may vary.
some weekly.

Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:09 pm

Maddog209 wrote: Does anyone have a trick or suggestion on how to easily remove the rear axle nut on a Bug? Would PB Blaster or similar product help? I'm using a breaker bar and still no luck other than damn near lifting the rear of the car off the stand.

You loosen these with the wheel and tire on the ground. Same for tightening.

Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:18 pm

*hijacking for a moment..sorry* if anyone near Joplin, MO has one of the torque meister and a torque wrench to let me borrow, barter (I have a 73 seat I'd trade), or rent let me know it would help me out a ton. I lost that stuff a year ago and haven't had $ to replace it.

Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:29 pm

Use a impact wrench. It will NOT hurt your car. I've used it for years with NO problems. I even put my flywheel gland nut on with one. I know there are many who will say this is the WRONG thing to do. But it works for me.

Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:24 pm

Cusser wrote: Maddog209 wrote: Does anyone have a trick or suggestion on how to easily remove the rear axle nut on a Bug? Would PB Blaster or similar product help? I'm using a breaker bar and still no luck other than damn near lifting the rear of the car off the stand.

You loosen these with the wheel and tire on the ground. Same for tightening.

NOT an option with custom wheels.

And, as mentioned above, I was able to get both sides removed with PB Blaster and an impact gun. Upon inspection of the left rear brake I found a 2' piece of the shoe lining broken off and rattling around inside the drum. New shoes purchased and will be installed tomorrow.

Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:08 am

see, the easy part
now to put it back on. :roll:

Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:05 am

Maddog209 wrote: Cusser wrote: Maddog209 wrote: Does anyone have a trick or suggestion on how to easily remove the rear axle nut on a Bug? Would PB Blaster or similar product help? I'm using a breaker bar and still no luck other than damn near lifting the rear of the car off the stand.

You loosen these with the wheel and tire on the ground. Same for tightening.

NOT an option with custom wheels.

Oh. I can remove the axle nut on my aftermarket wheels with the wheel on.

But first I have to remove the wheel, take off the cotter pin, and remount the wheel. So usually nowadays I just use my electric impact wrench. Note that I'm in Arizona, no rust, and I've owned mine for 38 years, so very few surprises.

Maddog209 wrote: I found a 2' piece of the shoe lining broken off and rattling around inside the drum. New shoes purchased and will be installed tomorrow.

Great.

Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:11 pm

Or you can do what I did - Put a ratchet on the nut w/ a 2 foot cheater bar.
Then put in one lug nut to the right side of that.
Then put a big lug wrench on that lug nut,
Then jump up and down on both at the same time, whilst holding your nuts hoping you dont get a cheater bar through them.

:D

Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:15 pm

DrummerDaveB wrote: Or you can do what I did - Put a ratchet on the nut w/ a 2 foot cheater bar.
Then put in one lug nut to the right side of that.
Then put a big lug wrench on that lug nut,
Then jump up and down on both at the same time, whilst holding your nuts hoping you dont get a cheater bar through them.

:D

Buy a cup! [Or athletic protector, or whatever they are called now]

Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:06 pm

I remember on my 74 trying to get the castle nut off. Had a 36mm socket, two foot breaker bar, and a five foot steel pipe over it. Me and my buddy just ended up bending the pipe :shock: That's when I bought the torque tool posted here, and even with that, I still have to use the cheater bar and a lot of force. The nut wasn't even rusted when I pulled it, just the PO hired a gorilla to put it on, apparently. I used a torque wrench to put them back on. One lined up perfectly, other I had to still do another 1/4 of a turn to get teh cotter pin in. YMMV.
Don't even get me started on the engine gland nut. I had two guys standing on the case and three guys on the five foot pipe to no avail :lol: :lol: :lol:

Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:15 pm

I punch through it with my impact wrench.

If you're rebuilding a car or doing any amount of custom car work you should invest in a decent air compressor and some basic air tools. It will make your life much better. Sure you can do a complete resto on a VW with nothing but a 13mm wrench and some foul German language, but why not make it easier by having tools that help. :shock: :D

Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:07 pm

With the wheel off and the car on stands, place a crow bar thru 2 of the lug bolts and locked against the ground, then place a 1 7/16 or 36 mm socket and a breaker bar on the nut. Now stand on it. It will come off. If you happen to weigh about 250 lbs, re-install the nut with all your weight placed on the breaker bar at 12" from the socket to get 250 ft lb torque.