Was going to set my 9" in my car today and get pinion angle and tack weld the spring pads. When installing the axles (Strange, with Strange center section and the Explorer disc brake setup) and the torque @70 ft lb the one time nuts suddenly just spun as though they were stripped. The torque wrench did not click. I tried to back the nuts off and remove, but they will not back up. Any ideas? Thanks Dan :confused:
Maybe your socket is too big. Just kidding, but I'm not sure what nuts your talking about. The ones that go through the bearing plate and hold the axle on? Or is this something to do with the explorer brakes?
Yes, the ones that hold the axle in. Never seen anything like them. They are the one time only nuts and with arrows on them too. I went ahead and assembled the rest of the rearend and installed it in the car. Put the wheels on and its on the ground. Now need to set the pinion angle tomorrow and was wondering if any input from anyone on that. Car will see mostly garage time, with cruise nites and stuff like that. Still would like to run it down the track in Muncie though.
Not sure why that happened but either the nut threads stripped or the flange on the backside of the bolt rounded. I also didnt know those nuts were one time deals. I've always reused them. Anyways I'd just take a die grinder and grind off the the nut and bolt. Since its all assebbled, you could probably grind off the flange on the backside.
Those nuts are 3/8 fine thread with crushed collars. I've reused them maybe two times at the most. I've also had them strip on me as well, but this was not due to being reused. You don't want to reuse them because the crush collars wear out & may work themselves loose over time. They cannot handle 70 lbs. of torque & I learned that the hardway as well. I ended cutiing one off & then drilling it out. A major bitch! It took a few hours. I now only torque mine to 60 lbs. on all my Fords. Also take a close look at the studs, as those tend to booger up the threads over time from the extreme amount of pressure they handle in retaining the axles. Hope this helps.
Yes they are 3/8 fine thread. Machine shop told me that they should not be torqued over 35 ft lbs. Maybe I read something wrong in the instructions, but I coulda swore they said 70 ft lbs. As for the now stuck bolt and thread, I think I will grind off the head of the bolt at the axle flange and then tap it thru the outside. Thanks Dan
3/8"x 24 grade #2 is 35 lbs max and grade #8 is 49lbs max ( and they call them "one time" nuts for a reason) replace them with Nylock nuts!
