Axle Nut of Death

[SuperK]

so, pop the hub cap off the rims, get to the axle nut, ready my 1/2" drive 32mm socket and breaker bar (18"). stomp stomp stomp!


... nothing.

3 Ft metal pole added. STOMP STOMP!

... nothing.

6 ft metal pole added. STOMP STOMP STOMP CRACK!

... breaker bar broke

harbor freight, you have another one to replace! I'm on my 3rd one now.

I broke down and went to northern tools and got... what I now call... Breaker Bar 9000! it weighs 8.5 pounds.

3/4 drive 40" bar



Let's see who breaks who this time!

[MrMazda92]

[mitmaks]

Did you take pry out portion where it's staked? I usually pry it out with chisel and then use my impact gun and it comes right off.

[SuperK]

yeah I got a flat edge screwdriver and pried out teh notched portion. You must have a heckuva impact! I got some cheapy Lowes Kobalt impact kit for 50 bucks on a black friday sale, and it does nothing on anything. You get what you pay for sometimes...

[Mooneggs]

I can relate to this... I remember breaking several breaker bars in conjunction with a 5 foot lead pipe

I have a 1/2" 36" bar now that has worked well. I've got to replace my pass axle sometime soon so we'll see if it still works!

[Ryan]

I used at one point, a dash rebar and a 3/4" drive.

Try tightening it first... oddly enough this helps. Also put just the socket on, and whack that with a hammer good and solid a few times (as opposed to many weakling times denting your socket to s---)

[onlytrueromeo]

After getting sick of bashing knuckles, smashing or grinding bolts off, and struggling with breaker bars, I bought this.

http://www.amazon.com/NitroCat-1200-K-2 ... B002Q8A98M

Got it at a better price, and I believe it's one of the models that's USA made, if that makes a difference.

I have not found anything it has not been able to take off yet. Make sure if you get an impact, get some good quality impact drivers. 6 Points, not 12 and if they aren't impact quality they may explode on use...

[SuperK]

gee WIZ, 1200ft lbs! the thing is, it doesn't even require that much air, 4cfm @ 90-120! That'd work with my compressor...

[_-Night-Shade-_]

Holy crap! That's a proper impact.

[SuperK]

I'd call it, "Impact Wrench 9000!"

[Daninski]

Tightening then trying to loosen is a certified routeen. I've used it many times trying to get screws out of aircraft panels.
One wheel nut on my 96 needed a 3/4 drive bar with 5' pipe and my fat bast*rd friend who weighted 300+ bouncing on the end. Dremeling the thing off works as well.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

I'm with Romeo on this one. I've had the same problem on my Protege. Broke 4 Home Depot breaker bars in one afternoon, and ended taking it out with a chisel and sledge hammer.
Get an impact wrench. Even a 350 Ft/Lbs one would work.

Just DON'T BUY the AAP impact sockets. They're garbage.

[mitmaks]

yeah I got a flat edge screwdriver and pried out teh notched portion. You must have a heckuva impact! I got some cheapy Lowes Kobalt impact kit for 50 bucks on a black friday sale, and it does nothing on anything. You get what you pay for sometimes...

Mine is rated at 230ft lbs. I bought it as a kit (impact/air ratchet) years ago from HF, they don't that particular one anymore but there's similar one at 250ft lbs for $25.
I'd put some penetrating oil on the nut and let it soak. I wonder if someone used some locktite on the treads. Might have to use some heat on there.

[onlytrueromeo]

Penetrating oil will do wonders, it could definitely help.

I think they under-rate the air needed for the AirCat I listed, but I have used it on a small compressor before. It will not work for long but you can get bursts from it, which should be all you need to break it free. I have an extra IngRand gun that I got for free, solid metal. Does not compare. The aircat is smooth, quiet, and sooo much more powerful.

Trust me, that and my angle grinder have been some of my favorite tools for working on car maintenance. The only thing that pisses me off about car work is when things don't go the way they're supposed to - i.e. stuck bolts, sheared bolts, clips that wont unclip. I've acquired tools now that ignore the PITA that these items can be. And I am much happier that the problems don't add 2-4 hours to the project time!

If you cannot buy an impact, I would suggest penetrating oil for a few days, if that doesn't work, wash it with water, and try to torch it and alternate the heat with a hammer/breaker bar. Wash it because the penetrating oil makes toxic fumes when heated.

[jeffs93toy]

any kind of oil and a propane torch... in that order... worked wonders on the rear through bolts for the lateral link and control arm, on the wheel side.