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jmmj
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2005
Posts: 252
Location: Brasil / New Zealand
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 Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 10:41 am Post subject: Rear axle nut options. |
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Hey fellas,
First on my bug and now my bus. Went to do maintenance (brakes + trans oil leaking), needed a hell of breaker bar to get the rear axle nut off. I saw that the threads weren't exactly in good shape, a bit rounded off. After i finished, i went to tighten it up and the damn nut didn't make it, slipped off the threads. So i grabbed a nut off another bus and tightened it up pretty good but not tight AF. Its been a couple days, i use the bus daily for work.
Just went to check on it. The nut has not held.
So i effectively have a stripped axle stub. What does one do?
On my bug, i bought 3 new nuts from different sources and none of them worked out.
I’d imagine that a thread chaser isn't going to help much. Are there undersized nuts? Do i cut new threads use a smaller nut??
Maybe its time for an IRS conversion....
Thanks for any help.
Cheers,
Mike
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Eric&Barb
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Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 25871
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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Time for a good used or NOS stub axle.
Sure there are new technologies out there that can laser weld new material onto the threads to be rethreaded, but those are going to be too expensive to do since good used parts are still out there.
Excellent time to inspect the RGB bearings or better yet replace them all now, and keep the varified good used ones in the onboard spares box.
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jmmj
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2005
Posts: 252
Location: Brasil / New Zealand
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 9:07 am Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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Thanks Eric&Barb!
| Eric&Barb wrote: |
Time for a good used or NOS stub axle.
Sure there are new technologies out there that can laser weld new material onto the threads to be rethreaded, but those are going to be too expensive to do since good used parts are still out there.
Excellent time to inspect the RGB bearings or better yet replace them all now, and keep the varified good used ones in the onboard spares box. |
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Clara 
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Joined: June 14, 2003
Posts: 12595
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 9:14 am Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
Time for a good used or NOS stub axle.....
Excellent time to inspect the RGB bearings or better yet replace them all now, and keep the varified good used ones in the onboard spares box. |
x2.
FWIW, I always use a smear of grease or anti-seize on the threads when installing the axle nut. Then when it needs servicing, even if it's years later, the nut comes off w/o hassle. If the threads are rusty, I wire brush them first, then put on some grease. I want to be able to spin that nut smoothly on by hand.
but if the threads are messed up and the axle nut doesn't hold the torque, best to replace the stub axle. You don't want the nut coming loose and falling off. 
BTW, you don't want it tight AF.
for 36 mm nut- 215 ft lbs
for 46 mm nut 250 ft lbs
If you don't have a torque wrench..do some math
if you weight 215 lbs, and stand one ft out on the slide bar from where it is on the socket, that's 215 ft lbs.
If you stand 18 inches out that's 215x1.5=322.5 ft lbs.
If you stand 14 inches out that's 215x14/12=251 ftlbs.
if you weight 170 and stand 18 inches out that's 170x1.5=255 ft lbs
That's standing, not bouncing.
Then, if needed, bounce a tad to get the cotter pin in
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Eric&Barb
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Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 25871
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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No problem, glad to help! Do keep the damaged stub axle, and yellow tag it. These parts are getting harder and harder to find as they get used up. Plus like how 3D printing is getting more available, wide spread and less and less costly, the new laser welding should also follow. Right now they are using it for repairing hard to find aircraft parts that are are very NLA, like B-29 engine cylinders.
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Eric&Barb
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Joined: September 19, 2004
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Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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| Clara wrote: |
That's standing, not bouncing.
Then, if needed, bounce a tad to get the cotter pin in |
Definitely!! Though if the nut is more than a just tad off from the cotter pin going thru, best to try a different nut.
Yes, one can damage an axle by over torquing. So do be careful.
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jmmj
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2005
Posts: 252
Location: Brasil / New Zealand
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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| Clara wrote: |
| Eric&Barb wrote: |
Time for a good used or NOS stub axle.....
Excellent time to inspect the RGB bearings or better yet replace them all now, and keep the varified good used ones in the onboard spares box. |
x2.
FWIW, I always use a smear of grease or anti-seize on the threads when installing the axle nut. Then when it needs servicing, even if it's years later, the nut comes off w/o hassle. If the threads are rusty, I wire brush them first, then put on some grease. I want to be able to spin that nut smoothly on by hand.
but if the threads are messed up and the axle nut doesn't hold the torque, best to replace the stub axle. You don't want the nut coming loose and falling off.
BTW, you don't want it tight AF.
for 36 mm nut- 215 ft lbs
for 46 mm nut 250 ft lbs
If you don't have a torque wrench..do some math
if you weight 215 lbs, and stand one ft out on the slide bar from where it is on the socket, that's 215 ft lbs.
If you stand 18 inches out that's 215x1.5=322.5 ft lbs.
If you stand 14 inches out that's 215x14/12=251 ftlbs.
if you weight 170 and stand 18 inches out that's 170x1.5=255 ft lbs
That's standing, not bouncing.
Then, if needed, bounce a tad to get the cotter pin in |
Thanks for that! I bought the bus a few years ago and finally have it on the road. I do use it daily but only travel a couple miles at most. So i'd yet to go through the brakes properly. Thats when we get these kinds of surprises!
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jmmj
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2005
Posts: 252
Location: Brasil / New Zealand
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Rear axle nut options. |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
| No problem, glad to help! Do keep the damaged stub axle, and yellow tag it. These parts are getting harder and harder to find as they get used up. Plus like how 3D printing is getting more available, wide spread and less and less costly, the new laser welding should also follow. Right now they are using it for repairing hard to find aircraft parts that are are very NLA, like B-29 engine cylinders. |
I haven't been able to locate a new axle stub at all in my country. I've only seen used ones but come complete with the reduction box and are not at all cheap. Machine shop said they can weld material and cut new threads. Not exactly thrilled at the prospect of removing the axle stub but it could be worse. All the suspension is absolutely flogged, everything is flogged, so my thinking is that i'd be better off going IRS but i'll probably get the stub machined just to get back on the road.
I'll have to look into laser welding! I thought it was all bit of a gimmick?!
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