Rear axle nuts
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Zeeland Michigan
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Can you remove the center cap while the wheel is mounted or do you first need to remove the wheel?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: NJ
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: West coast CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
It's a bit tricky to get a hold of, though. I use a little L-shaped pick to grab the back of the cap and pop it out.
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Instructor
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From: chicago il
Le Mans Master
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From: West coast CA
Racer
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From: Dartmouth Massachusetts
Pro
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From: San Jose CA.
Same here; problem seems to be widespread.
I've been following the Z06 thread on loose axle nuts and decided to check my C6. Dial caliper showed the nut to be just under 33mm so I bought a 33mm GM axle nut from Pep Boys. Passenger side was very loose, 80lb.ft. or so, drivers side was tighter but still not correct. Tightned both to 118 lb. ft. and will continue to check them now that I've proved to myself that it's a problem. May be Locktite time?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Montreal Qc
I just ordered a second set of nuts and I plan to double nut them...can't think of any downside to doing this and the upside is this should stop the originals from backing off. 
I think the reason you are reading one side was "more loose" than the other is that it is unlikely both sides would loosen the same amount.
I think the reason you are reading one side was "more loose" than the other is that it is unlikely both sides would loosen the same amount.
Last edited by Miaugi; May 28, 2007 at 11:09 AM.
Drifting
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From: az
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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Besides, what would that do to the balance of the half shaft or bearing hub assembly? Probably nothing, but I wonder...............
Last edited by LOS ANGELES PI; May 22, 2007 at 07:04 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
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From: Montreal Qc
Rather than search out something that "might" do the job I just bought the OEM nuts at a dealer, they cost me ~$13 each.
I will pick the new axle nuts up today (dealer had only 1 in stock), my plan is to torque the existing nuts to the 118 ft.lbs. and then torque the second nut to 100 ft.lbs. which should prevent the original from backing out as the nuts should lock to each other.
"Double nutting" (sounds weird) has been around forever and I've never seen something come loose when using this method.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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Rather than search out something that "might" do the job I just bought the OEM nuts at a dealer, they cost me ~$13 each.
That won't be a problem as the nut has a integral shoulder washer incorporated into it so the socket can't go past the first nut to get to the second one.
There is plenty of room to add a second nut onto the shaft and in will have no effect on balance as it is at the very center of the wheel assembly.
I will pick the new axle nuts up today (dealer had only 1 in stock), my plan is to torque the existing nuts to the 118 ft.lbs. and then torque the second nut to 100 ft.lbs. which should prevent the original from backing out as the nuts should lock to each other.
"Double nutting" (sounds weird) has been around forever and I've never seen something come loose when using this method.
That won't be a problem as the nut has a integral shoulder washer incorporated into it so the socket can't go past the first nut to get to the second one.
There is plenty of room to add a second nut onto the shaft and in will have no effect on balance as it is at the very center of the wheel assembly.
I will pick the new axle nuts up today (dealer had only 1 in stock), my plan is to torque the existing nuts to the 118 ft.lbs. and then torque the second nut to 100 ft.lbs. which should prevent the original from backing out as the nuts should lock to each other.
"Double nutting" (sounds weird) has been around forever and I've never seen something come loose when using this method.
Maybe you could start a new thread titled "Solution to Loose Axle Nuts" to get the info out to as many people as possible. Then it should be made a sticky. This is the cheapest and easiest solution to this nagging problem...hopefully, GM is reading this and will at least incorporate a "half-nut" as a locking nut. It doesn't take a lot of torque when double-nutting something to get them locked on the threads, 100 ft-lb will have them on there until the axle shaft or nuts rust away.
Good job!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 54
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From: Xenia Ohio
Loose Nuts (Rear Axle)
I gotta quit reading these threads about issues I would of normally been unaware of......
Checked my 2006 C6 A6 garage queen (700 miles) and it has never ever been pushed and found both nuts about 1/6 of a turn loose. They were not loose but they were not at 100 ft lbs which is where I set my torque wrench as I was just trying to verify tightness not break loose. My concern with breaking loose the nut has destroying the "Locktite seal" if there was a factory seal and I can tell you for sure there was NO factory installed locktite seal. The minor nut movement I experienced could be the calibration difference between my torque wrench and the factory's impact wrench even though I set mine at 100 ft lbs so I'd rather doubt this theory.
This will be a routine inspection when I change the oil from now on....Thanks everybody for the heads up.
John
Checked my 2006 C6 A6 garage queen (700 miles) and it has never ever been pushed and found both nuts about 1/6 of a turn loose. They were not loose but they were not at 100 ft lbs which is where I set my torque wrench as I was just trying to verify tightness not break loose. My concern with breaking loose the nut has destroying the "Locktite seal" if there was a factory seal and I can tell you for sure there was NO factory installed locktite seal. The minor nut movement I experienced could be the calibration difference between my torque wrench and the factory's impact wrench even though I set mine at 100 ft lbs so I'd rather doubt this theory.
This will be a routine inspection when I change the oil from now on....Thanks everybody for the heads up.
John
