Technical How to set up and tighten axle nut

[cyberbird]

Hi,

I recently removed both driveshafts, had them inspected. The long one had one joint repaired.
Now I have to torque down the axle nut. The short one, that wasn't repaired, has a cut in the nut that somewhat aligns to where the nut was previously. I torqued it to 200nm and honestly kept tightening till I got it to correct spot. I don't think I can do it differently than this.
But long one, that got repaired, doesn't have a cut that aligns. So I think I will need to make a new cut. Is this the way I'm supposed to do this?
I worry I will damage thread if I cut it. Angle grinder would almost definitely damage thread. Would a jigsaw cut be a better solution?
Also, I don't know the correct torque for this. But it doesn't really move anymore beyond 200nm, regardless of how much I tighten it.

 

[rmjbn1]

Some of the hub nuts don't have slits cut for hammering a tab down.

Instead the nut has a collar which is staked into the slots, as here:

correct way to fit a modern hub nut | FIAT Punto (Mk2/2b)

I got a Fiat punto hub nut made by a GKN company for €12-90 https://www.autodoc.co.uk/lobro/1387166 The nut was extremely strongly made. The staking part of the nut is about 1/8th thick. It was impossible to stake it with a few hits of the hammer. I dressed up a small chisel that...

www.fiatforum.com

I don't have the figures for Doblo, on Punto and Panda torque is usually given as 240Nm:

Front hub nut torques | FIAT 500 (2007+)

Does anyone have the torque setting for the front hub nuts - regular 1.2? I had to cut the locking tabs off the old ones since they were too thick to gently lever up and out of the way of teh driveshaft notch... so I'll need to fit new ones. The new ones have the smooth collar to "dent" into...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[cris1117]

The new nut wont have a cut it is made with a sharp chisel and hammer once it is correctly tightened.

 

[cyberbird]

Thanks for replies. It ended up being rather easy. I made slots in nut with angle grinder and bent them with hammer. I think I was complicating too much.

 

[jackwhoo]

The nut starts off without cuts or splits in the locking ring part.
The splits have been caused when the dents in the locking ring part were pushed out to then undo the nut.

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks for replies. It ended up being rather easy. I made slots in nut with angle grinder and bent them with hammer. I think I was complicating too much.

Normally the local parts department supplies new replacement nuts quite cheaply for most vehicles as you are not meant to reuse them, something like this.

 

[jackwhoo]

Normally the local parts department supplies new replacement nuts quite cheaply for most vehicles as you are not meant to reuse them, something like this.
View attachment 447960

If I don't have a replacement hub nut to hand ; rubbing the nut contact face against abrasive paper (on a flat surface) a few times shifts the points at which it is staked to the hub cut outs.

 

[bugsymike]

If I don't have a replacement hub nut to hand ; rubbing the nut contact face against abrasive paper (on a flat surface) a few times shifts the points at which it is staked to the hub cut outs.

Also if threads the same direction (not anticlockwise) it is possible to swap nuts left to right and get a different position which I have used when stuck.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Also if threads the same direction (not anticlockwise) it is possible to swap nuts left to right and get a different position which I have used when stuck.

Often done this Mike and it usually works well.

If I don't have a replacement hub nut to hand ; rubbing the nut contact face against abrasive paper (on a flat surface) a few times shifts the points at which it is staked to the hub cut outs.

Never thought to try this Jack. Such a simple solution too! Doh! you could do it a couple of times before the nut was unserviceable.

 

[cyberbird]

The nut starts off without cuts or splits in the locking ring part.
The splits have been caused when the dents in the locking ring part were pushed out to then undo the nut.

Oh really? Splits looked really clean, I never even thought those might be crack.

Also if threads the same direction (not anticlockwise) it is possible to swap nuts left to right and get a different position which I have used when stuck.

Yea I did that, but since one driveshaft was repaired, one nut had misaligned cut.

Normally the local parts department supplies new replacement nuts quite cheaply for most vehicles as you are not meant to reuse them, something like this.
View attachment 447960

Ohhh, I didn't know they are not reusable. Good to know, thanks. I will leave them as they are for now.

 

[jackwhoo]

Often done this Mike and it usually works well.


Never thought to try this Jack. Such a simple solution too! Doh! you could do it a couple of times before the nut was unserviceable.

Simple enough for me to think of it

 

[cyberbird]

If I don't have a replacement hub nut to hand ; rubbing the nut contact face against abrasive paper (on a flat surface) a few times shifts the points at which it is staked to the hub cut outs.

That wouldn't work for my old nut because it has integrated rubber ring on the bottom and you cant grind that, but good idea for other full metal nuts

 

[jackwhoo]

That wouldn't work for my old nut because it has integrated rubber ring on the bottom and you cant grind that, but good idea for other full metal nuts

Rubber ring.....Interesting I have never seen that

 

[cyberbird]

If I ever take it down again, I will take a picture and post it here

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

That wouldn't work for my old nut because it has integrated rubber ring on the bottom and you cant grind that, but good idea for other full metal nuts

Like Jack, I've not come across one like this either. Are we talking a FIAT here or something else? if so, what car, model etc? I'm not trying to catch you out by asking, just very interested to know.

 

[cyberbird]

Like Jack, I've not come across one like this either. Are we talking a FIAT here or something else? if so, what car, model etc? I'm not trying to catch you out by asking, just very interested to know.

Now you are making me question myself if I remember what I saw correct. I'm 80% sure I saw a black rubbery part on the bottom of the nut. But now that I'm thinking about it, maybe I perceived it wrongly because of different color like here:

My car is Fiat Doblo 1.4 t-jet 88kw, bought January 2017 in Slovenia. If I ever take the nut off again, I will definitely post pics here.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Now you are making me question myself if I remember what I saw correct. I'm 80% sure I saw a black rubbery part on the bottom of the nut. But now that I'm thinking about it, maybe I perceived it wrongly because of different color like here:

View attachment 447996

My car is Fiat Doblo 1.4 t-jet 88kw, bought January 2017 in Slovenia. If I ever take the nut off again, I will definitely post pics here.

Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to think through the logic behind a rubber seal on the nut. Presumably to keep in something like grease or keep out dirt but, for the life of me I can't see it. The nut is tightened against the flange and the nearest grease is going to be inside the hub with the wheel bearings. Can't see any grease getting out as far as this nut - hope not anyway! I rather like the idea of stopping dirt/moisture getting in to attack the splines - seen enough of them seized/corroded solid in my time - but never come across any attempt to seal it so far and the nut to flange faces are pretty much a lapped finish anyway by the time they're torqued up. I remain intrigued.

 

[bugsymike]

Is that photo actually of a vehicle hub nut as I can't see that design taking the pressure.
It certainly doesn't look like any hub nut on a Fiat Doblo that I have worked.
Apart from this Ducato one and it is metal not rubber and a bit like some Fords used in the past and they also were all metal , but the washer part swiveled.

 

[vexorg]

Pretty sure you are meant to fit a new nut every time with those types.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Pretty sure you are meant to fit a new nut every time with those types.

Even more so compared to days of old. Fittings generally are much more highly stressed and taken nearer to their limits than ever before. I'm thinking of stuff like head bolts and others which could be happily reused on stuff like the old "A" & "B" series Leyland stuff but now, with stretch to yield, must never be reused. When My Ibiza had it's new gearbox fitted I noticed several new nuts/bolts, in particular the front wheel hub nuts. I queried this and was told they are only allowed to be tightened once. If ever slackened they must be renewed.