Can't find a socket that fits the front hubs

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TexasCrane

TexasCrane

10 Year
Joined
May 13, 2014
Threads
30
Messages
345
Location
Austin
So I'm on my 3rd socket tonight. I originally bought a Klutch 54mm at Northern Tool but it wasn't even close to deep enough. I could just barely get it to catch on the outer lock nut. So I had my wife pick up a 2 1/8" craftsman at Sears on the way home. It got the outer nuts off but can't reach the inner adjustment nut. I then ran by tractor supply, and picked up a Jobsmart 2 1/8". It appears to be just barely deep enough, but then wouldn't you know it, it's too dang wide to fit inside the hub.

So, where are you guys getting sockets that will get at the inner adjustment nut? Anybody in Dallas want to loan me one tonight for some free beer?
 
Try pushing the axle shaft in any of those sockets will work once you get that shaft pushed in. I used the craftsman socket with no issues.
 
Got mine at an Autozone years ago (AZ cheap parts place) it even had a sticker on the 54mm that said for Land Cruiser.
 
Just finished everything up. Took the LX for a quick spin to bed in the brakes a bit and now I'm ready for bed. Things were looking bleak earlier tonight. But there's a guy around the corner who's got a nicely built FJ Cruiser and I've seen him working on a 1st get 4runner in his garage.

Long story short, I drove by as he was pulling into his driveway. I stopped and asked him as he was getting out of his car if he happened to have a 54mm hub socket for Toyotas. He did and a few minutes later I was on my way home with the OTC 54mm socket. It worked perfectly. This has got to be up there on the list of unusual ways to meet your neighbor. I'm going to drive around a bit more tomorrow and double check that the bearings haven't loosened up and then I'm going to return the socket along with a 6 pack of some good beer.
 
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You want a hub socket, not a "real" socket. The hub sockets are generally fabricated by stamping and welding plate so they are very very thin walled, very deep, and very cheap when compared to traditional cast/forged sockets.
 
^this.

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TexasCrane said:
Are you sure you're not referring to how you removed the lock washer? If not, I'm very curious to hear how you managed to set the adjusting and lock nuts with a flat head and a hammer.
Click to expand...

That's a method that has been used for years. You can actually do it without the hammer too. The flathead wedges against the locknut and you spin the hub/rotor to turn it. It's not the best method because it can mar up your stuff, but if you're careful, it works fine. It's good to know in case of a field repair when a 54mm hub socket isn't available. (I always carry one anyway)
 
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:grinpimp:^what he said. I pretty much took apart my whole front end with a flat head and hammer (well Half of it I used a piece of wooden fence post as a hammer but it broke into pieces after a while.) I did booger them up a little bit but nothing that couldn't be touched up with a file. And judging by the frequent questionable visitors my neighbors have, if he has a 54mm socket I could borrow, he's probably smoking out of it.
 
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