RTH: Wheel bearing preload: turning nut causes "clangs"?

[NaterGator]

Ok I'm at a loss.

I'm trying to set my driver side wheel bearing preload and it isn't going completely according to plan. First when I gronked down the locking nut to torque spec it sheared the indexing tab on the lock washer.

So I had to go buy more... no big deal. Now I'm noticing though that when I torque the adjusting nut to 41lb-ft (or whatever the FSM spec is, don't have it handy) the second time and then go to loosen it until free by hand, there is a loud clang that comes from the hub.

If I stop, and then start loosening again the clang happens again... it sounds like something shifting but wtf it is I have no idea and my passenger side didn't do this when I was setting it. I proceeded ahead and tried to set the adj nut to 48in-lb and put the locking nut on, but the lock washer index got a bit mangled again.

I also noticed that my fish scale is reading about 13lbs even if I set the adjusting nut a bit loose.


So a) any ideas wtf the noise is, and should it be giving me pause?
B) Is it normal for the lock washer index to get a little deformed when torquing the lock nut to spec, and should I be concerned that my fish scale is showing me about 2lbs higher than FSM spec?

This is driving me crazy and I've got a break in the weather to button it up now. I need to get this thing freaking set

 

['74 UA FJ]

I couldn't tell you what the clang is, but when I was doing my brakes, I found that it was really difficult to change the preload according to the fish scale, no matter what I torqued it to. I believe that when you are reusing bearings, they already have a "sweet spot" for the preload because they've already been run and broken in.

Try to figure out what that noise is. Don't worry about the lock washer, as long as the tab keeps it from moving freely in the theta direction.

 

[NaterGator]

I can't for the life of me figure out the clanging. Need some help from somebody with experience on this because I'm almost sure it isn't normal.

That said spinning the hub by hand feels normal and pushing/pulling against it doesn't yield any play... it's just loosening the nuts on the spindle that causes the noise. I just realized even loosening the locking nut does it as well and it only seems to matter if the nuts were torqued down pretty hard

 

[nicholas]

Is the hubs seated fully on to the spindle? If it wasn't I could see that creating a clang when you start torquing it down.

This isn't very scientific, but could you post a picture showing how many threads are exposed on the end of the spindle after you have the lock nuts tightened? IIRC I only had a couple of threads showing.

 

['74 UA FJ]

How do the threads look on the spindle?

 

[NaterGator]

The threads on the spindle are fine.


I think I found the source of the "clang"... when I pulled the hub back off again the indexed washer (inboard of the adjusting nut) had hopped up slightly onto the threads from backing off the locking nut and I think the clanging sound was that rubbing/hopping action on the threads.


Now my problem is that every time I tighten the locking nut the proload goes way too high. If it's 7lbs on the fishscale with just the adj nut it's 13-14 lbs with the lock nut in place. I have tried the FSM method, landtank's method, etc. All yeild the same "too tight" condition after locking down.

Am I supposed to put grease on the faces of the adjusting/locking nuts and on the washer/locking washer to allow slip or are they supposed to remain "dry"? Maybe that's my problem, I've been greasing them slightly, though I don't see how being dry would help the situation maybe that's a mistake on my part

 

[NaterGator]

I'm gonna go grab another set of claw/thrust washers and see if that fixes the problem. From searching and considering the hopping behavior it sounds like it might be binding and causing my problems.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Any chance the threads on the adjusting nut are worn/bad and it is climbing over more threads when you crank down the lock nut? That could make the noise, and change the load values. I've had similar problems on a different application. John

 

['74 UA FJ]

13 lbf is pretty fxxxing close to 12.6 lbf.

 

[NaterGator]

Howdy! Any chance the threads on the adjusting nut are worn/bad and it is climbing over more threads when you crank down the lock nut? That could make the noise, and change the load values. I've had similar problems on a different application. John

Shouldn't be, but I bought a new nut too in case this was the problem.

13 lbf is pretty fxxxing close to 12.6 lbf.

It is, but I've only gotten it once. And to be honest there is a little lag until the digital readout catches up with the pull on my fish scale, so I'm assuming it was a pound or so more. My last few attempts have all been in the 14, 15, 16 lb range which is simply too high.

Have new parts, will try again.

 

[racerdave]

I'm voting with Inkpot on this one.

Howdy! Any chance the threads on the adjusting nut are worn/bad and it is climbing over more threads when you crank down the lock nut? That could make the noise, and change the load values. I've had similar problems on a different application. John

 

['74 UA FJ]

You keep talking about the rain... don't your parents have a damn garage?

 

[NaterGator]

Alright well the new washer and nut seemed to help. I used the landtank 10ft-lb torque adjusting nut, torque lock nut and check preload method and was around 11-12 lbs. I buttoned it up and will just have to be careful to check it when I get up to gainesville and again a few times on my drive to NC.

Hopefully all is well and it was simply the claw washer.


Austin: yes, they have a garage. Yes it is full of stuff and my truck wouldn't fit in. No I can't think of a way to get it in there until I have the front axle reassembled anyways.