Technical front wheel bearing - left hand thread?

[renault]

Hi all
my new (1966) Giardiniera needed some attention to the front brakes so I needed to remove the drum. To my great surprise, the wheel bearing securing nut is a left hand thread. Yes you may say, this is normal - BUT - mine is left hand thread on the right hand wheel !! This is crazy - but hey this is my first FIAT 500 so I thought I would check with you guys before I panic. I wonder (in fact I fear) that the previous owner has put the stub axles on the wrong sides!. (I have not checked the left hand side yet).
Is it possible to put the stub axles on the wrong sides?
Regards to all
geoff

 

[the hobbler]

evening Geoff;
Sounds perfectly normal to me! According to my (factory original) workshop manual 'from car No. 043624, the right steering knuckle nut has a counterclockwise threading and is identified by a circle groove on outside face--conversely, the left steering knuckle nut is still threaded clockwise and has no identification mark'.
Doing it this way, the nuts are held tight by the wheel going against the thread direction, but if the bearings seize the nuts aren't dragged into

locking up the hub.
Lastly, if the hubs are put on the wrong way round, the steering arms will face towards the rear of the car and will not therefore connect with the steering cross link--this would make the car somewhat difficult to steer!!
Hope this sets your mind at rest

 

[renault]

hi Hobbler - thanks for that - BUT - unless I am being terribly stupîd - that cannot be correct.
If the RH hub has a left hand thread, that means it could loosen - not tighten - with the rotation of the wheel.
I now wonder if the "logic" of using left hand threading is not to stop the nut loosening - but to stop it tightning and thus siezing the bearing.
I hope we can clarify this.
regards
geoff

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Geoff;
The rest of the statement in my Fiat workshop manual reads thus:-Above variation has been introduced as a prudential measure, like what already existing at left hand steering knuckles, to avoid that, should wheel bearings seize accidentally, right hand steering knuckle nuts are dragged to lock bearings and, consequently, road wheels.---make what you will of that!! I had always been taught that by tightening a nut up AGAINST the direction of rotation, it would help hold the nut tight. Whatever the reason, the right side has a left-hand thread, and the left side a right-hand thread!
There is a proper factory proceedure for adjusting the front hub bearings--let me know if you want this proceedure (torque settings etc)

 

[renault]

thanks for coming back to me again on this one. I spent sqome time last night looking around the internet on the topic of LH & RH threads for wheel bearings and it seems quite confusing with different companies applying differring logic. Anyway, I will of course go with what your manual says - even if I don't really follow the logic.
I have only just got the car and do not yet have a manual - so please do let me have the torque setting - I may as well reset them now they are stripped down.
Thanks again for your help
geoff