Spindle nut problem

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Jul 15, 2017 | 07:47 AM

BLDTruth

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From: Oregon

Spindle nut problem

Rebuilding a dana 44 and almost done. While torquing down the outer spindle nut, the lock washer that is keyed to the axle and mates to the inner spindle nut decided it wanted to go for a ride too, either ripping off of the little ear that is keyed to the axle, or just tearing into my spindle threads. So now I am looking at an inner spindle nut with a keyed washer on top that I cannot remove most likely without breaking the washer so I can actually get the spindle socket onto the nut again. Anyone ever come across this and what did you use to get it out?

Jul 15, 2017 | 11:17 AM

BLDTruth

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From: Oregon

Pic for reference. Keyed portion of the spindle is at 9 o'clock. The actual keyed portion of the washer is at 12.

Jul 15, 2017 | 12:03 PM

GoinBoarding

Cargo Master

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From: Laramie, WY

My sympathies. Never had that happen to me. A slim 3 jaw puller would be good here but I've never seen one. I wonder if it could be split with a sharp chisel, at two spots, so it'd fall off the spindle. Just mind the threads..

Jul 15, 2017 | 06:03 PM

Briansshop

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

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From: MD

How about "unscrewing" the washer by driving it with a punch/drift and hammer?

Jul 15, 2017 | 06:29 PM

BLDTruth

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From: Oregon

A chisel driven down the keyed portion of the spindle did the trick. Snapped the washer in two and then pried it off. If there is damage to the threads I won't know until I pull off the inner nut next time. Luckily it would be right where the washer sits, so a new washer for now did the trick and I am back up and running. Thanks for the suggestions.

Jul 16, 2017 | 05:53 AM

Diesel_Brad

Fleet Owner

Joined: May 2009

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From: Gilbert, PA

hammer and chisel. Split the washer

Jul 16, 2017 | 08:01 AM

Nothing Special

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Joined: Feb 2013

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From: Roseville, MN

If the washer turned odds are the pin is missing from the inner spindle nut. The inner spindle nut has a small pin that sticks out on one side that catches a hole in the washer. The key in the washer then keeps the inner nut from turning. If the nuts are ever installed wrong (inner one with the pin facing in, or inner one second) the pin gets broken off. Then the washer won't do it's job and you should really get new parts for it now.

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Jul 16, 2017 | 03:50 PM

'89F2urd

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Is this the driver or passenger side? The drivers side spindles of old (not sure exactly what year changed to reverse thread) have regular "lefty loosey" threads, which will come loose without a lock ring/washer. I had this happen to me in my 89 a few months after my d60 swap, where whoever was in there last didn't put the lock washer in correctly, and the nut backed off. I was on the highway, and the truck jumped over two lanes on its own, and it was so fast that even if I had time to react with the wheel, it would have still been a lane over or more. It was 2am with no one beside me....if it was mid day on a one lane each way with oncoming traffic, I could have died.