AXLE NUT Backing off

[InFocusTraSTi]

Hey guys has anyone experience problems with the axle nuts loosing torque and backing off during racing? I did a track day and right at the end of the day (2-2.5 hours on track) the axle nut backed off enough that the splines wouldnt move the hub. Left the car to cool down and retighten everything for the next day and RE-RE-tighten before the track session on sunday and after about 40 minutes it came loose again. When i got back home the hub was broken and splines are ground down.

Anyone EVER had and issue like this? ANy ideas on solutions? Did a quick search on the site and there are upgraded axle nuts from other cars... any recommendations? This was driver side... is the passenger side just as prone to have the same problem?

PS yes i ordered new hub, bearing, axle nut, axle, output seal, Tranny OIL (15/40 MOBIL 1 Delvac), Front brake disc, and i am about to order new pads...

Also if you guys know how might have Hawk Blues for our cars in stock that would be great since I have a AUTOX this weekend...

[ckisner]

what year, model is your foci?

i've never had an issue with mine. i usually just check the torque in the morning before the sessions start. they are always tight. maybe yours got loose enough to damage the threads/nut so it wasn't able to tighten properly

[Ted7rns]

They will back out if you never check them, but I believe must everyone has that axle nut on their checklist.

[dhardison]

Torquing the axle nuts is #1 on my pre-session checklist as well.

If you're using the 'laminated' axle nuts then it's quite possible the nut backed off and messed up the threads on the axle shaft (common problem). That probably kept you from getting a proper re-torque. I had a similar problem with my SSC Focus, but after switching to the SVT axle nuts I've had no more issues.

[BigSandwich]

Every aftermarket axle I have purchased comes with a proper nut rather than the stacked, laminated garbage that ships with most of the early cars.

Upgrade the nut and you should stop having problems.

[dhardison]

The problem I've seen with the aftermarket axle is they don't come with a nut AND washer, it's just the nut. At least the replacement axles from Advance and AutoZone are that way. I'd be weary of running just the axle nut without the large hardened washer to spread the load, even on a street car. Of course I'm anal about hub failure since I've had that happen to me multiple times on track.

[B3NN3TT]

Originally Posted by dhardison

The problem I've seen with the aftermarket axle is they don't come with a nut AND washer, it's just the nut.

Exactly so. I had an issue with the nut backing off on the aftermarket axles as well. i switched back to an OEM stacked nut and it's been fine ever since.

[dhardison]

I've had LOTS of problems with the OEM stacked/laminated nut. Try the OEM SVT nut (w/integrated washer) and you'll never go back to the old stacked/laminated nut.

[BigSandwich]

Originally Posted by dhardison

The problem I've seen with the aftermarket axle is they don't come with a nut AND washer, it's just the nut. At least the replacement axles from Advance and AutoZone are that way. I'd be weary of running just the axle nut without the large hardened washer to spread the load, even on a street car. Of course I'm anal about hub failure since I've had that happen to me multiple times on track.

Hmm, the nuts that I have received on my axles do not have a washer but they do have a large flange on them that spreads the load out the same way a washer would.

The rally brake kit also came with a nice set of nuts that free floating washer attached to them. Same concept just that you would not get into a binding situation between the face of the flanged nut and the hub. But at 300 ft/lbs or whatever the torque spec is for that nut I have not seen too many issues.