axle nut

[Dirty325ix]

I have broken two breaker bars and gone through a can of liquid wrench.....any tips? Is it reverse threaded or something or do I just keep returning my breaker bars

[jlevie]

The nut has normal right hand threads, but is torqued real tight. I have never have had a problem getting them off. But then I use a 3/4" drive socket and breaker bar along with a 4-5' cheater.

[blusylver]

My Milwaukee impact took them off with no issue. It was super rusty also.

The same impact has snapped a 7/8 craftsman and a snap-on impact socket before.

[AndrewBird]

Front or rear? Front has a tab that is bent over to lock it in place and rear has a thin plate that slides into the hub and locks it. Make sure you remove these before.

[TobyB]

My wussy half- inch rattlegun will even do it- 5 minutes later...

But yeah, 3/4" drive socket set from HF with a 5' chunk of pipe on it does the deal.
About the only HF tool I actually use regularly- if only as arbor press dies!

t

[goldenbb]

The nut is a one-time use component, btw.

[TobyB]

In front, it's supposed to be. I've cheated many times and lived

t

[nando]

it's an ix guys. but removing the front is basically the same as removing a rear.

I've had one get stuck like that before. it was from overheating the brakes on a track day. I nearly taco'd a hefty 3/4" snap on breaker bar getting it off. the impact guy I had access to didn't even budge it. if we had broken that, the next step was to find a diesel mechanic shop where they work on big rigs.

normally I use a 1/2" breaker bar and a 3' piece of steel pipe. I also clean the threads and use a touch of copper anti-seize.

The nut is a one-time use component, btw.

on the ix it's not. I've reused them countless times. it's not a lock nut, there's no reason to not re-use it unless you round it off or damage it somehow.

[tonerrrr]

Sure there isn't a lock plate? They are actually hard to see sometimes...

Pics from http://www.teamdfl.com/bmw/e30/rear_wheel_bearings/

[TobyB]

Usually if the lock plate's still in there, you don't get the socket on well enough and round
the nut.

Ask me how I know how to do that...

t

[jalopi]

3/4" drive socket set from HF with a 5' chunk of pipe on it does the deal.
About the only HF tool I actually use regularly- if only as arbor press dies!

This is good advice. Don't know why I didn't think of this before...

Anyway, maybe I just got lucky with mine, but my fronts came off with a two foot breaker bar and the rears came off with my 1/2" gun. The drivers' side didn't get the surrounding clip/retainer removed cuz I couldn't see it through all the rust. Passenger side got removed though, but it wasn't any easier to remove.

[jrobie79]

my front came off with a HF impact gun while the lock tab was still bent in...

[Dirty325ix]

I was able to get it off with a 7 foot extension but now I'm stuck on the axle being stuck in there

[TobyB]

If the brass punch and BFH doesn't do it, the only way I found to get 2 of mine out
was with a press. And some rather- involved bracketry to hold things in place.

Some cars seem to be pretty easy, and others are almost welded solid....

t

[AndrewBird]

Two jaw puller should be able to push it out.