I have a 92 ford explorer sport and i cant get the spindle nut key out i have tried to move the spindle nut to make sure its not wedged i have the pencil magnet and i stick it up there and it wont budge........ it has the original brakes on it since it was new which means nothin has been touched in 12 years.... i have even tried useing spray lube is their anyway of goin in to the back i wonder..... all i wanted to do was change the brake rotor.... thanks

 

From "drbob" at http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/we.../fbrakes.html:

"8. The next thing to come off is the indexing key for the bearing nut. This is a small goodie that slides in that groove on the spindle, and indexes in one of the round relief grooves inside the nut. The key is about 8mm wide, maybe 15mm long, and is in that groove in the spindle. It tends to get stuck in there, wedged by the pressure of the bearing nut trying to turn. To unwedge it, put your wheel bearing socket over the nut, and turn the nut gently towards the back of the car just a slight bit. Feel for the total amount of play in the nut and the key, and try to center the nut's position on the key.

Ford shows a guy fishing that darn thing out with a small magnet. I have had absolutely no luck with their method, and instead use a dentist's pick with a small hook at the end. I can reach just under the outside edge, and pull the key out. This takes a bit of patience. Once the key is out, make sure it ends up in the tray. Then take your socket and unscrew the bearing nut. Do not even think of trying to get that nut off before the key is out. "

(also check out http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/exp.html)

 

I was able to get the key out of the spindles on my 92 by using a pair of large channel locks instead of a socket. One of my pair of channel locks wouldn't fit between the wheel studs, but I have an older pair that aren't as beefy in the jaws and I am able to grasp the nut with them between the studs. By doing this, I can wiggle the nut while applying the magnet to the groove. I had a hard time trying to center the nut on the groove, but by wiggling the nut, eventually the key comes out.

Hope this helps

 

I've had to split the nut with a chisel being careful not to damage the threads and then get another nut.

 

That works, too!

 

I used a magnet. I did have to "wiggle" the nut a bit to find where it would allow the key to slide out.

 

i tried all the other ways... your way sounds to be about the easiest...... is finding a new nut hard to do can i go to any auto parts store and find one???

 

I've always been able to get the wedge out using a small straight screwdriver...the suggestion about centering the nut is a good one. Make sure there's no pressure on the wedge and it should slide out pretty easily...

Good luck.

 

Splitting the nut is not the easiest way. There is a great deal of risk to screwing up the threads on the spindle, which would be an expensive fix. I've done several of these. If you center the nut on the wedge it will pull out freely. Remember that when the wedge is in place, the nut can only travel around 5° to 10°. Try tightening and loosening the nut with the wedge in place, either using a pair of channel locks, or a socket on a pull handle, and notice how much free travel you have. Then center it up on the free travel and try pushing and pulling on the wedge, it should move freely. I have used a large paper clip and bent a small 90° hook on the end to pull them out. (I prefer the hook method to the magnet method, but either can work) Usually the wedge can be removed within one minute of pulling off the inner part of the Auto-hub. To me putting this inner part back on is the most aggrevating part of working on these hubs. Oh, and make sure you've slid off the little shim that goes between the inner part of the auto-hub and the nut. That shim will prevent removal of the wedge, and some times it's difficult to realize that it is there in the grease.

Good Luck.........

 

I agree, should be a piece of cake. Just turn the nut to take the tension off the key, and it should be pretty easy to fish out. I used a dental pick, did the trick.

 

i wanna say thanks for all your help... but i finally gave up on it and took it to my local mechanic and he put a lil heat to it and managed to get it out it was somehow in there really tight...... thanks