Official Axle Nut Bulletin
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 402
Likes: 3
Official Axle Nut Bulletin
This information is out in another thread, but thought it might be easier to find here:
Tapping or Scraping Noise From Rear Wheel Area (Replace Wheel Drive Shaft Nut) #07-04-95-001 - (09/26/2007)
Models: 2004-2008 Cadillac XLR
2004-2008 Chevrolet Corvette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Some customers may comment on a tapping or a scraping noise coming from the rear wheel area.
Cause
This condition may be due to the torque on the wheel drive shaft nut relaxing over time.
Correction
Replace the left and the right wheel drive shaft nut following the procedure below.
Remove the center cap from the rim.
Remove and discard the wheel drive shaft nut.
Apply LOCTITE™ 272, or equivalent, to the threads of the axle shaft.
Install the nut and tighten to the new specification.
Tighten
Tighten the nut to 215 N·m (160 lb ft).
Install the center cap to the rim.
Important: The vehicle should not be driven for 24 hours following the repair in order to allow the thread lock to cure.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty
10257766
Nut
2 (one per side)
Warranty Information: Labor op F9712 0.3 hr.
Tapping or Scraping Noise From Rear Wheel Area (Replace Wheel Drive Shaft Nut) #07-04-95-001 - (09/26/2007)
Models: 2004-2008 Cadillac XLR
2004-2008 Chevrolet Corvette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Some customers may comment on a tapping or a scraping noise coming from the rear wheel area.
Cause
This condition may be due to the torque on the wheel drive shaft nut relaxing over time.
Correction
Replace the left and the right wheel drive shaft nut following the procedure below.
Remove the center cap from the rim.
Remove and discard the wheel drive shaft nut.
Apply LOCTITE™ 272, or equivalent, to the threads of the axle shaft.
Install the nut and tighten to the new specification.
Tighten
Tighten the nut to 215 N·m (160 lb ft).
Install the center cap to the rim.
Important: The vehicle should not be driven for 24 hours following the repair in order to allow the thread lock to cure.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty
10257766
Nut
2 (one per side)
Warranty Information: Labor op F9712 0.3 hr.
Last edited by Chevtech; Sep 27, 2007 at 06:34 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Cartek did the replacement on my axles to that spec and the axles broke.....twice. Dave replaced it a third time but did the locktite and only tq'ed to 100 ft b's and it fianlly worked. The axles the second and third time were new.
Another bit of info was that the car wasnt being abused on the second replacement and had no reason to break being both new and not WOT. 160ft lbs is too much. 118 was stock. 118 plus Locktite is enough. I check mine regularly at 100 and they never came loose again(1000 miles now).
Also, use the C5 axles since they are thicker. The 4 numbers for the Z06 are all thinner at the inner neck before the joint so they arent any better. The C5 axles have proved themselves for many years under serious power in cars with 700+rwhp strokers. They are an exact replacement and work fine in my car.
Another bit of info was that the car wasnt being abused on the second replacement and had no reason to break being both new and not WOT. 160ft lbs is too much. 118 was stock. 118 plus Locktite is enough. I check mine regularly at 100 and they never came loose again(1000 miles now).
Also, use the C5 axles since they are thicker. The 4 numbers for the Z06 are all thinner at the inner neck before the joint so they arent any better. The C5 axles have proved themselves for many years under serious power in cars with 700+rwhp strokers. They are an exact replacement and work fine in my car.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
Thanks, ChevyTech. 
Glad to see the torque spec increased from 118>>160.
Loctited mine at 118 and they've not loosened since.
No axle/CV joint issue for me thus far. I'm at 80 drag strip passes on my original ealier version of the C6 axle that's not the most breakage-resistant version by any means.
Ranger
Glad to see the torque spec increased from 118>>160.
Loctited mine at 118 and they've not loosened since.
No axle/CV joint issue for me thus far. I'm at 80 drag strip passes on my original ealier version of the C6 axle that's not the most breakage-resistant version by any means.
Ranger
Last edited by Ranger; Sep 28, 2007 at 09:20 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 54
From: slower lower DE
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...highlight=axle
See attached post. Shows torque spec at 140 lb-ft not 160. This needs to be accurate. Not sure how we get right info.
See attached post. Shows torque spec at 140 lb-ft not 160. This needs to be accurate. Not sure how we get right info.
NCM Life Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 453
Likes: 55
From: Raleigh NC
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...highlight=axle
See attached post. Shows torque spec at 140 lb-ft not 160. This needs to be accurate. Not sure how we get right info.
See attached post. Shows torque spec at 140 lb-ft not 160. This needs to be accurate. Not sure how we get right info.
The above TSB is the official document which supercedes the preliminary information. Use the instructions in the TSB above.
Save The Wave,
John
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NCM Life Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 453
Likes: 55
From: Raleigh NC
Cartek did the replacement on my axles to that spec and the axles broke.....twice. Dave replaced it a third time but did the locktite and only tq'ed to 100 ft b's and it fianlly worked. The axles the second and third time were new.
Another bit of info was that the car wasnt being abused on the second replacement and had no reason to break being both new and not WOT. 160ft lbs is too much. 118 was stock. 118 plus Locktite is enough. I check mine regularly at 100 and they never came loose again(1000 miles now).
Also, use the C5 axles since they are thicker. The 4 numbers for the Z06 are all thinner at the inner neck before the joint so they arent any better. The C5 axles have proved themselves for many years under serious power in cars with 700+rwhp strokers. They are an exact replacement and work fine in my car.
Another bit of info was that the car wasnt being abused on the second replacement and had no reason to break being both new and not WOT. 160ft lbs is too much. 118 was stock. 118 plus Locktite is enough. I check mine regularly at 100 and they never came loose again(1000 miles now).
Also, use the C5 axles since they are thicker. The 4 numbers for the Z06 are all thinner at the inner neck before the joint so they arent any better. The C5 axles have proved themselves for many years under serious power in cars with 700+rwhp strokers. They are an exact replacement and work fine in my car.
The threaded portion is almost 1" in diameter and should be able to take far more than 160 ft-lb of torque.
Save The Wave,
John
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 11
From: St George
Specific TSB on Axle Nut Torque
This information is out in another thread, but thought it might be easier to find here:
Tapping or Scraping Noise From Rear Wheel Area (Replace Wheel Drive Shaft Nut) #07-04-95-001 - (09/26/2007)
Models: 2004-2008 Cadillac XLR
2004-2008 Chevrolet Corvette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Some customers may comment on a tapping or a scraping noise coming from the rear wheel area.
Cause
This condition may be due to the torque on the wheel drive shaft nut relaxing over time.
Correction
Replace the left and the right wheel drive shaft nut following the procedure below.
Remove the center cap from the rim.
Remove and discard the wheel drive shaft nut.
Apply LOCTITE™ 272, or equivalent, to the threads of the axle shaft.
Install the nut and tighten to the new specification.
Tighten
Tighten the nut to 215 N·m (160 lb ft).
Install the center cap to the rim.
Important: The vehicle should not be driven for 24 hours following the repair in order to allow the thread lock to cure.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty
10257766
Nut
2 (one per side)
Warranty Information: Labor op F9712 0.3 hr.
Tapping or Scraping Noise From Rear Wheel Area (Replace Wheel Drive Shaft Nut) #07-04-95-001 - (09/26/2007)
Models: 2004-2008 Cadillac XLR
2004-2008 Chevrolet Corvette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Some customers may comment on a tapping or a scraping noise coming from the rear wheel area.
Cause
This condition may be due to the torque on the wheel drive shaft nut relaxing over time.
Correction
Replace the left and the right wheel drive shaft nut following the procedure below.
Remove the center cap from the rim.
Remove and discard the wheel drive shaft nut.
Apply LOCTITE™ 272, or equivalent, to the threads of the axle shaft.
Install the nut and tighten to the new specification.
Tighten
Tighten the nut to 215 N·m (160 lb ft).
Install the center cap to the rim.
Important: The vehicle should not be driven for 24 hours following the repair in order to allow the thread lock to cure.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty
10257766
Nut
2 (one per side)
Warranty Information: Labor op F9712 0.3 hr.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,712
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
In other words, the torque value has been changed, probably more than once, over the years.
We need someone to go to a dealership and have them check their computer system for the current bulletin, make a copy with a date stamp, and scan it to post here.
My 2009 axle nuts were done by the dealership 11-2009, 9105 miles. They came loose again 11-2012, 51960 miles and a local shop redid them (lots of care and work to remove the old Loctite) to 140 ft-lbs. Now at 89000 miles, still ok.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 11
From: St George
There is also a TSB specifically for the axle nut torque that clearly states the torque value to be 160 ft-lbs, and another one claimed to show 140 ft-lbs.
In other words, the torque value has been changed, probably more than once, over the years.
We need someone to go to a dealership and have them check their computer system for the current bulletin, make a copy with a date stamp, and scan it to post here.
My 2009 axle nuts were done by the dealership 11-2009, 9105 miles. They came loose again 11-2012, 51960 miles and a local shop redid them (lots of care and work to remove the old Loctite) to 140 ft-lbs. Now at 89000 miles, still ok.
In other words, the torque value has been changed, probably more than once, over the years.
We need someone to go to a dealership and have them check their computer system for the current bulletin, make a copy with a date stamp, and scan it to post here.
My 2009 axle nuts were done by the dealership 11-2009, 9105 miles. They came loose again 11-2012, 51960 miles and a local shop redid them (lots of care and work to remove the old Loctite) to 140 ft-lbs. Now at 89000 miles, still ok.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Highly unlikely it will cause an accident. The hubs are still held on by something totally separate and I don't think you could even get the axles off regardless without more dis assembly than just removing this one nut
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Jim, here is what I got from Paul Pearson, Apr. 2010 which tends to agree w. schpen's post above. I also don't know if the final answer with a TSB is in the mega-thread sticky above C6 Gen somewhere in the FAQ thread with all the various problems, solutions, stats on cars, etc.
"The spec from 2005 with the original spindle nut is 118. The revised TSB was published with a new nut and a spec of 140 around 2007 and the follow-up procedure was to supply a new nut, apply Loc-tite and torque to 140.
The revised spec is currently using yet again a new nut (new part number) and the spec is 160. Where it gets further complicated is that in 2009, the assembly plant began using spindle assemblies from the supplier with the new spindle nut and Loc-tite already applied with the spec at 160. If folks with newer cars start trying to check the torque to 160 they run the risk of violating the Loc-tite which ultimately could contribute to the nut then coming loose.
The change from 140 to 160 was caused by a revision to the thread pitch and tolerance on the nut which was prompted from the nut relaxing at torque due to slop in the thread.
Folks make WAY too big a deal over this. Even if the spindle nut comes completely off, it isn't like the axle assembly is coming off. It is not a legitimate safety concern."
"The spec from 2005 with the original spindle nut is 118. The revised TSB was published with a new nut and a spec of 140 around 2007 and the follow-up procedure was to supply a new nut, apply Loc-tite and torque to 140.
The revised spec is currently using yet again a new nut (new part number) and the spec is 160. Where it gets further complicated is that in 2009, the assembly plant began using spindle assemblies from the supplier with the new spindle nut and Loc-tite already applied with the spec at 160. If folks with newer cars start trying to check the torque to 160 they run the risk of violating the Loc-tite which ultimately could contribute to the nut then coming loose.
The change from 140 to 160 was caused by a revision to the thread pitch and tolerance on the nut which was prompted from the nut relaxing at torque due to slop in the thread.
Folks make WAY too big a deal over this. Even if the spindle nut comes completely off, it isn't like the axle assembly is coming off. It is not a legitimate safety concern."
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,656
Likes: 112
From: ocean springs mississippi
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Good to see I'm not crazy 
I've changed rear hubs/bearings on mine before.. the hub is held on by something totally separate than the axle nut. The axle nut basically just holds the axle (half shaft) in place on the hub.
The hub is held on to the spindles with a couple of totally separate bolts, then the spindle is held on the A-arms, etc.
I had to take some of the suspension mounting bolts off to pull the hub/spindle out far enough to get the axle out of the hub. No way it's coming out on it's own. There's just not enough room.
Even if it did.. you'd just have no power being transmitted to one wheel. The wheel wouldn't fall off or anything.
I've changed rear hubs/bearings on mine before.. the hub is held on by something totally separate than the axle nut. The axle nut basically just holds the axle (half shaft) in place on the hub.
The hub is held on to the spindles with a couple of totally separate bolts, then the spindle is held on the A-arms, etc.
I had to take some of the suspension mounting bolts off to pull the hub/spindle out far enough to get the axle out of the hub. No way it's coming out on it's own. There's just not enough room.
Even if it did.. you'd just have no power being transmitted to one wheel. The wheel wouldn't fall off or anything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
I fixed my MY2006 once and for all over a hundred thousand miles ago by applying some Honda Moly 60 to the splines _and_ the flat at the base of the splines that faces the back of the bearing. That last part was essential. It has been silent ever since.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,712
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Jim, here is what I got from Paul Pearson, Apr. 2010 which tends to agree w. schpen's post above. I also don't know if the final answer with a TSB is in the mega-thread sticky above C6 Gen somewhere in the FAQ thread with all the various problems, solutions, stats on cars, etc.
"The spec from 2005 with the original spindle nut is 118. The revised TSB was published with a new nut and a spec of 140 around 2007 and the follow-up procedure was to supply a new nut, apply Loc-tite and torque to 140.
The revised spec is currently using yet again a new nut (new part number) and the spec is 160. Where it gets further complicated is that in 2009, the assembly plant began using spindle assemblies from the supplier with the new spindle nut and Loc-tite already applied with the spec at 160. If folks with newer cars start trying to check the torque to 160 they run the risk of violating the Loc-tite which ultimately could contribute to the nut then coming loose.
The change from 140 to 160 was caused by a revision to the thread pitch and tolerance on the nut which was prompted from the nut relaxing at torque due to slop in the thread.
Folks make WAY too big a deal over this. Even if the spindle nut comes completely off, it isn't like the axle assembly is coming off. It is not a legitimate safety concern."
"The spec from 2005 with the original spindle nut is 118. The revised TSB was published with a new nut and a spec of 140 around 2007 and the follow-up procedure was to supply a new nut, apply Loc-tite and torque to 140.
The revised spec is currently using yet again a new nut (new part number) and the spec is 160. Where it gets further complicated is that in 2009, the assembly plant began using spindle assemblies from the supplier with the new spindle nut and Loc-tite already applied with the spec at 160. If folks with newer cars start trying to check the torque to 160 they run the risk of violating the Loc-tite which ultimately could contribute to the nut then coming loose.
The change from 140 to 160 was caused by a revision to the thread pitch and tolerance on the nut which was prompted from the nut relaxing at torque due to slop in the thread.
Folks make WAY too big a deal over this. Even if the spindle nut comes completely off, it isn't like the axle assembly is coming off. It is not a legitimate safety concern."
