Why do my front spindle nuts keep coming loose?

[CNSRANCH]

73, ball joint front end, disc brakes. Both sides give me problems. Just replaced bearings and races. All seated properly. I just re-tightened them both and cranked the crap out of the allen screws. Threads look fine.
Do you think the spindle nuts have stretched over time?
Spec calls for 7-9# on the screws, that ain't doing it.
Kinda scary when the brakes start bouncing when the nuts loosen.
What say you all?
Oh.......just had a pro set the toe......it was out almost 3" (can you say wander?).......can that fix the problem?

[Dale M.]

Check nut to see if it has a gap so there is room to put pinch pressure on spindle... Also do you have washer between bearing and nut...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[CNSRANCH]

Thanks Dale......washer's there, I think it's time for new nuts.
They're both right hand thread........sure seems like the pass side should be left.

[57BLITZ]

[CNSRANCH]

I AM NOT LOSING MY MIND (at least not just yet.).
Driver's side tightens to the right.....hence, right-hand thread - makes sense.
Passenger side also tightens to the right......it SHOULD tighten to the left.
How can that be?
Ya can't put the damned things on backwards.

[57BLITZ]

Read the description for the nut . . . https://www.jbugs.com/product/131405669.html

[andk5591]

I use the clamp type nuts as show in the pic. Never an issue.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[oprn]

Yes something is seriously wrong there! I have never seen that issue on the front of a VW of any kind.

You do leave a bit of slack in the bearings for heat expansion right? You can wiggle the wheel slightly when you are done? Move the washer sideways with a screw driver?

I thought so... Just checking...

[CNSRANCH]

It occurred to me that someone may have pressed a new spindle in and used the wrong one......I'll have to check and see if the pass side has a hole for a speedo cable.

[andk5591]

Yeah - bottom line is that the nuts are NOT supposed to be interchangable from side to side. and I adjust mine to where I can slide the thrust washer back and forth with a moderate effort using a big flat blade screwdriver.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[57BLITZ]

To clarify exactly what is happening . . .
Are you saying that you adjusted the wheel bearings properly, took a drive, and the wheel bearings then had excessive play?
Are you positive that your spindle nuts actually moved?

Something similar has happened to me! The wheel bearings loosened up after driving . . . the spindle nuts on my car, however did NOT actually ROTATE on the spindle and loosen!

There are other scenarios that could cause the bearings to become loose after being adjusted.
One example . . . the inside wheel bearing outer-race was not fully seated in the brake hub . . . the race(s) worked further into the hub during the test drive and the bearings became loose.

You should make note (a couple photos maybe) of the nuts after being adjusted and before driving to see if the nuts themselves are turning during a drive.

As I mentioned before, the default is for wheel rotation to TIGHTEN spindle nuts against the bearings.

Be sure to look at what Dale told you to check . . . that gap for the pinch bolt . . . Ya gotta have a gap so that the pinch-bolt will tighten and cause the spindle nut to grip the threads!

How "bout those washers . . . tab fits in the slot so washer will not rotate on the spindle, correct?

The big mystery is why you have right-hand threads on both spindles.