I broke an axle u joint last week and in the process of repairing it I noticed some play in the wheel so I removed the cotter pin (which was the only thing holding the nut on) and the spindle nut was only hand tight :eek: I've only had this car for a couple of years so someone must have forgot to torque it down :smash: That could have been ugly!!!
The bad thing is the weather here in Oregon just got in the 80's.


[Modified by stingraynick75, 12:18 PM 6/3/2003]

 

yikes.......... that could have been reeeeaaal ugly

 

I would say its a good thing you found the loose nut. But I would also say that those spindles are pressed in there very tight. Even if the nut fell off, its likely the wheel and spindle would still stay in place. Just my guess since I know how hard it was to get my spindles out. Them things are pressed in there good. Its a good thing you found it though. :cheers: :smash:

 

:eek: :eek: :eek:

 

The spindle pulled right OUT... and I like driving the curves :steering:

 

:smash: Thank god nothing happened :eek:

 

Holy cow. Good thing you found it! You should drop by sometime and check out my torn apart car, I may even have the new engine in a couple of weeks :) Who knows if I'll ever be able to put all the pieces back together again :rolleyes:

 

Sometimes the "while I'm at it" can save your life or more important the car. I was installing a new VIR valve for my A/C and just for the heck of it decided to install a new shut-off valve for the heater hose. While pulling the compressor I noticed some green liquid on one of my heater hoses...coolant. Apparently the mechanic at Corvette World routed the heater hose under the compressor bracket and it had worn a hole in the hose...I figure it would have been gushing in another month. Never underestimate the desire to poke around while the hoods up. And, never trust a professional mechanic.

 

Hey Dath, I will stop by to check out your project and I will be
:steering: the vette,should be getting the parts next week.
Rockn-roll, "while I'm at it" I'm replacing the parking brake assm. and some bushings....not the trailing arm :eek: yet BTW I think we almost met @ Kent's NHRA Nationals last year, we are going again this year!!

 

You can expect the nut was loose because the bearings were worn.

 

Most definatley new bearings/seal, wonder why bearing would be worn...it didn't look bad, plenty of greese and no wear :yesnod: The nut and spindle threads were stripped :eek:


[Modified by stingraynick75, 12:00 PM 6/4/2003]

 

If you need a new set of bearings, I think I have one knocking around the garage somewhere... I am no longer brave enough to attempt replacing them myself, so when it comes time, I'll most likely just have it done. The bearings are yours if you want 'em.

 

MY GOD, That is a good catch, All this talk about these close calls, are really getting me nervous. I need to start printing these out so then when I finish my engine/body, I can move onto the suspension and be able to check everything off. Or better yet. We should compile a list of things to look over, in both pulling the vett out of winter storage, and when doing major overhalls, a good check list would be a great tool to have.


I was not so lucky with the whole wheel issue. About 3 years ago, I was in california, and herd this clicking sound, I got out and played with everything on the wheels , and the liggs all felt tight, and there was not play in the wheel it's self, so I got back in the car, started driving up to about 25mph, Then I felt a big SNAP! and the car just lunged into oncomming traffic, I regain "some control". The rear tire locked up at this point, but I managed to force the car off the road into a parking lot where it finally came to a halt, and would not move. I got out and found my rear tire sideways locked up in the wheel well, the caliper snapped and with the wheel and caliper managed to lodge up the whole rear end, Luckly enough the wheel didn't come out, other wise the dammage would have continued onto the body BIG TIME. but in the end I was stuck with just replacig the spindle, caliper,disk, and some body work to the cracks above the wheel well. What I think caused it was I was using spacers behind the wheel, and perhaps i didn't torque them down right or what, but it managed to shear off the luggs and the rest is history.