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View Poll Results: Axle nut issue, please indicate which group you fall into
Found one/both nuts to be loose
39
31.97%
Found both nuts to be tight
15
12.30%
Have not checked at all
68
55.74%
Voters: 122. You may not vote on this poll

Axle Nut issue

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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 12:08 PM
  #1  
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Default Axle Nut issue

Since my neighbor, Chevy salesman, witnessed this condition on my '07 Z51 he and I would like to get an idea of just how widespread it is.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 12:51 PM
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Any way I can get the Z06 folks to see this poll as well?
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 12:56 PM
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This is the first time I've heard of this issue - exactly what is the problem you are looking into here?
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by MNVette
This is the first time I've heard of this issue - exactly what is the problem you are looking into here?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1712159
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 01:30 PM
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One issue here is your use of the terms 'loose' and 'tight'... to wit... loose can be 'finger loose' as some have found (and represents a significant issue) or could be not to spec (118 flbs) say 110 or 100 or even 90 flbs which is far from 'finger loose' and far from as significant. I found both axel nuts on my MY 05 to be on spec. Not discounting your poll just pointing out there is quite a bit of variance on this issue.
Michael
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by C6FirstVette
One issue here is your use of the terms 'loose' and 'tight'... to wit... loose can be 'finger loose' as some have found (and represents a significant issue) or could be not to spec (118 flbs) say 110 or 100 or even 90 flbs which is far from 'finger loose' and far from as significant. I found both axel nuts on my MY 05 to be on spec. Not discounting your poll just pointing out there is quite a bit of variance on this issue.
Michael
I see your point, but usually if a nut is pretty close to spec - say within about 20% - it won't move perceptibly when you re-torque it, especially if its been sitting there for a while. And I think that 20% is significant here - it appears that having this loose can lead to failure of the axle shaft, due to poorly-distributed stress.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 03:49 PM
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I haven't checked yet. Waiting for the socket.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 04:59 PM
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Yep and double nutted now so no more
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Road Rage
Any way I can get the Z06 folks to see this poll as well?
magic time... hold my beer..
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 05:16 PM
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I haven't checked mine, but I've got a question (pardon me if it's been asked before):

I know on other cars (the Ford GT, for example) the axle nut is not a reusable part. Once it is removed (or even loosened) it must be replaced. Has anyone checked a service manual to see if the axle nut on the C6 is reusable? In order to effectively check the torque on the nut, it should be loosened and then re-tightened. I just want to make sure this doesn't invite a new set of problems...

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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 05:25 PM
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I'm guessing is this is a major safety issue GM will issue a RECALL or at least a TSB. Have either been published??

Tom
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by DEagle
I haven't checked mine, but I've got a question (pardon me if it's been asked before):

I know on other cars (the Ford GT, for example) the axle nut is not a reusable part. Once it is removed (or even loosened) it must be replaced. Has anyone checked a service manual to see if the axle nut on the C6 is reusable? In order to effectively check the torque on the nut, it should be loosened and then re-tightened. I just want to make sure this doesn't invite a new set of problems...

According to TSB 05-04-95-001 which is the Axle nut torquing procedure it makes no mention of having to use a new nut.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 05:56 PM
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Can someone describe....

What EXACTLY would happen if the nut became loose and theoretically fell off?

Something else I had read on the forum implied that if the nut became very loose things would still stay together. It's not like the wheel or axle will drop off. Is this correct? (Have not had a chance to open my service manual yet).

How bad or dangerous is it for the nut to become very loose and/or come off if you are just using the car in a normal legal manner on the street (meaning no super hard launches)?

I plan to check / re-torque mine regardless, but just wondering how serious this issue really is. Not sure if I will double-nut or just douse the single nut with thread locker.

Wonder if these nuts loosened up over time after being torqued by the factory, or if they were just never torqued correctly to begin with.

Perhaps they WERE torqued properly, and then the fit loosened up a bit over time / use, causing the effective torque on the nut to become reduced...? If by chance this is the case, then it would be best to check the torque periodically, especially if racing.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Road Rage
According to TSB 05-04-95-001 which is the Axle nut torquing procedure it makes no mention of having to use a new nut.
Thanks! I'll do a search for the TSB...

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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 06:23 PM
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The axle nuts on my 07 are at leat finger tight. I'll have to go out and buy a 1-5/16 deep socket to really check this out.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Road Rage
According to TSB 05-04-95-001 which is the Axle nut torquing procedure it makes no mention of having to use a new nut.
Service Manual say nothing about needing a new nut.
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Vet
Can someone describe....

What EXACTLY would happen if the nut became loose and theoretically fell off?

Something else I had read on the forum implied that if the nut became very loose things would still stay together. It's not like the wheel or axle will drop off. Is this correct? (Have not had a chance to open my service manual yet).

How bad or dangerous is it for the nut to become very loose and/or come off if you are just using the car in a normal legal manner on the street (meaning no super hard launches)?

I plan to check / re-torque mine regardless, but just wondering how serious this issue really is. Not sure if I will double-nut or just douse the single nut with thread locker.

Wonder if these nuts loosened up over time after being torqued by the factory, or if they were just never torqued correctly to begin with.

Perhaps they WERE torqued properly, and then the fit loosened up a bit over time / use, causing the effective torque on the nut to become reduced...? If by chance this is the case, then it would be best to check the torque periodically, especially if racing.
I have been wondering the same thing. Any thoughts from those who may have taken the rear end apart before?
Or has anyone heard of a wheel actually coming off??
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Old Jun 4, 2007 | 08:03 PM
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????
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 06:34 PM
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 06:44 PM
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The nut retains the drive axle end into the hub center, it has nothing to do with holding the hub to the carrier or wheel or any part of the suspension. Theorectically you could remove the nut and drive around the block......not an advisable practice but the wheel would stay on the car.

Last edited by retrorod; Jun 7, 2007 at 06:50 PM.
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