Axle nut torque

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Jh911
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Axle nut torque

Post by Jh911 » Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:27 pm

Hi everyone-

I’m just finishing up my latest DIY- replacing a boot on a front CV axle on my 2003 Carrera 4 S-and I’m wondering what I should do to torque the axle nut. 340 lb/ft, right? My torque wrench is laughably undersized, and the local part stores who loan out bigger torque wrenches don’t have one that will handle such a high torque value.

It seems that over tightening the axle nut could lead to wheel bearing issues- so I don’t want to use the impact wrench I used to remove the nut.

Should I use math and calculate the proper length of breaker bar and then stand my body weight on it? Should I just use the impact wrench and be done with it? any other suggestions??

This project has taken me longer than I’d care to admit to get this far - kids, work, travel have all stretched this thing out to a 2-plus week project. This is the most challenging project I’ve undertaken so far on my car. It’s been extremely satisfying to do this on my own, and I want to make sure I complete the final step correctly.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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B3DAWG
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Re: Hope this helps!

Post by B3DAWG » Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:43 pm

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B3DAWG
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Re: Axle nut torque

Post by B3DAWG » Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:59 pm

IMHO... You can use an impact wrench to remove the main drive axle bolt, but use a proper torque wrench that will handle the 340 ft lb of torque. I agree NEVER over torque these bolts. And, using high rated impact wrench could greatly damage the wheel assembly.

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5chn3ll
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Re: Axle nut torque

Post by 5chn3ll » Wed Jun 13, 2018 3:00 pm

If you don't have a 340 lb-ft torque wrench, just stack a 340-lb weight - plus a stack of the hard-back editions of all best-selling author, occasional Gitmo AirBNB guest, and internationally-renowned automotive fashion consultant John Ireland's books - on the end of a ratchet/extension combo that puts the weight exactly one foot from the pivot point (the centerline of the axle stud).

I don't have an appropriate torque wrench, but I can approximate it using a cheater bar and my somewhat-less-than-rail-thin physique. The nuts have not fallen off of the front wheels since using this technique, so it appears to be adequate for at least some applications.

If you're going to over-torque (i.e. guess at it), I'd over-torque with the cheater bar rather than the impact wrench. At least you'll have some vague feel for the bolt; with the rattle gun, who knows?

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

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sweet victory
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Re: Axle nut torque

Post by sweet victory » Wed Jun 13, 2018 4:02 pm

Another option if you don't have a torque wrench is use the following torque calibration spec for a 1/2" impact gun. 340ftlbs = 13 ugga duggas

Jh911
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Re: Axle nut torque

Post by Jh911 » Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:30 pm

Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions.

I went the cheater bar route with a (measured) extension and with my body weight on the end. I think my calculations got me close enough to the desired torque.

I’ll recheck it after driving around some just to make sure everything’s snug, but I feel pretty good about where it’s at now.

Really appreciate all the help from the community!

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Sneaky Pete
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Re: Axle nut torque

Post by Sneaky Pete » Thu Jun 14, 2018 6:22 am

Jh911 wrote: Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:30 pm Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions.

I went the cheater bar route with a (measured) extension and with my body weight on the end. I think my calculations got me close enough to the desired torque.

I’ll recheck it after driving around some just to make sure everything’s snug, but I feel pretty good about where it’s at now.

Really appreciate all the help from the community!
That iswhat I did. Used a breaker bar with a pipe extension and did a calc for the measurement of how long the extension should be. Got my 215 lb body on the end and hopped up and down a few times. Good job.
Pete

PCA Member and National DE Instructor
2005 997.1S 4.0......yeh it's not a 996...so what!
2017 Audi Q5 S-line
2012 Ram 3500 Deleted Diesel
1964 Spitfire Racecar
1973 Group 44 Spitfire Racecar

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B3DAWG
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Re: Axle nut torque

Post by B3DAWG » Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:28 pm

Jh911 wrote: Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:30 pm Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions.

I went the cheater bar route with a (measured) extension and with my body weight on the end. I think my calculations got me close enough to the desired torque.

I’ll recheck it after driving around some just to make sure everything’s snug, but I feel pretty good about where it’s at now.

Really appreciate all the help from the community!
Curious, what year 996? Does your axle bolt have a cotter pin on it?

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