Thread: Tips on removing axle nut ?

Air rattle gun. I can lend you mine if you want. I'm in Brighton.

Originally Posted by Oohsam

Hey guys,
I'm trying to undo the front axle nut. I've broken my good 3/4 inch breaker bar, sheared the socket head right off. Luckily its a replaceable part - but wasn't impressed.
Have also sheared my good kingchrome torque wrench - was pretty skeptical using it but it was worth a shot.
My impact air gun has also had no luck - it's pretty old so may be fairly weak.

I had a 1meter pipe over my breaker bar when it sheared clean off. The axle nut didn't so much as bat an eyelid.

I'm considering either going to get a new air gun that can do up to 570NM or a longer breaker bar...not too sure but dont really want to buy both just to take this thing off.
Manual says its done up to 320nm so maybe the air gun is the better way forward.

Any assitance appreciated.

Have you released the lock? It’s at the top of the nut gets tapped in to lock the nut. You need to bend it out before undoing. It is clearly effective.

Crack it with tyre on the ground like wheel nuts. I did it on hoist using a bar between the wheel bolts and was not too hard.



Lots of videos on YouTube cover this to replace wheel bearings and LCAs

Yeah I have bent the crimp back- have checked it about a dozen times to make sure its clear.

I might take up the offer to borrow the rattle gun - will send you a pm !

I've never seen a nut this tight- have never failed to undo a nut with my now deceased breaker bar. He lived a good life.

Originally Posted by Oohsam

Yeah I have bent the crimp back- have checked it about a dozen times to make sure its clear.

I might take up the offer to borrow the rattle gun - will send you a pm !

I've never seen a nut this tight- have never failed to undo a nut with my now deceased breaker bar. He lived a good life.

The torque setting has been lowered from 300s to 200s for this but now someone will confirm exactly.

Drill it and chisel it apart..easiest way of getting seized nuts off.

If you're replacing the bearings just heat it up.

failing that hit it with a mix of or any of ATF DEXIII diesel brake fluid and let it sit for a few hours..

then hit it by swinging on it with a breaker bar in both updo and undo direction till it cracks free.

3/4 air rattle gun with a good compressor is going to be your best bet.

you can also try root drilling near an apex and chiselling it apart but I'd leave that as a last resort as failure means a long an carefull session with a diegrinder.

May have been put on with Loctite? ? ?

Heat it up & then try. Just my thought, but breaking everything in sight means it is a tough Cookie. Could it somehow be a LH Thread?

Have you injected some good quality penetrating fluid into the slot so that it permeates the thread?

Do that and leave it for several hours.

Also my Ryobi 18V rattle gun is much stronger than my air rattle gun.

Regard sPhilipA