The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline '54 3/4 ton rear axle bearing outer lock nut - need removal advice

OK, I'm stuck. Have a rear seal leaking fluid out the drum brake. Got the axle out. Next is a castle-ated large nut. Looks like it is threaded on?. Looks like I must bend out (in?)the tabs - then what? Do I have to find a J-2222 tool? Thanks much - assume I don't know what I'm doing.

There are actually two nuts, with a lock washer in between them. Bend the locking tab out of the slot with a small chisel or a narrow screwdriver, and use a hammer and a flat-tipped punch (not a chisel) and a hammer to back the nut off. Then remove the washer and remove the second nut the same way. On reinstallation, use the inner nut to set the preload on the wheel bearing while rotating the wheel and hub assembly. Don't overtighten it- - - -just take up the play in the bearings, then bend a lock tab into one of the slots on the inner nut to retain the bearing adjustment. Tighten the outer nut securely and bend another lock tab out to keep it from loosening.

Be aware that if those nuts back off the entire hub and axle assembly can part company with the vehicle- - - -I've recovered a few disabled big rigs and had to go searching down the side of the road for a missing hub, tire and axle assembly!
Jerry

Great information - just what I hoped for. So the J-2222 tool is not needed, just the hammer and flat chisel will do, I guess.

One more question, though. Lock ring removal is counter-clockwise?

Yes, the housing load tube thread is "lefty loosey- - -righty tighty!" Normal right hand thread.
Jerry

Jerry's advice is spot-on. A flat-tipped punch worked well for getting my axle apart. It wasn't that tight, really.

I have made axle nut spanner wrenches by welding pieces of square key stock onto an appropriate-diameter piece of water pipe, and drilling a hole in the pipe for a handle made of round stock. While you have the nut off, use a radiator hose clamp to hold the key stock into the nut slots and weld a pipe to them. You'll have a tool you can pass on to your grandchildren!
Jerry

You can go down to a parts store and get a socket that will fit them axel nuts. If you want to replace those center tab lock washers any good autoparts store can get them. You should be able to get them nuts out with a good chisel or punch.

When I ran a diesel shop we made a lot of that kind of stuff- - - -nothing like forking over the profit margin to the tool truck man every month!
Jerry