The Ford Barn

Benson · 01-13-2012, 09:29 AM

Re: Damaged Rear Axle Theads
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Have you ever seen axle shafts with the first 3/8 to 1/2 inch of threads all stripped?

I wondered why it is always the first 1/2 inch that is damaged.

One cause besides crossthreading is when someone removes the brake hub/drum assemblies.

1. Using a puller is the best way to remove the hub/drum.

2. The common method does the most damage. People loosen the castle nut a couple of turns and hammer on the nut with a BFH to loosen the hub ... wrong wrong wrong!

When they beat on the "castle" nut the internal threads on the end of the nut are deformed by the hammer blows. Then when they try to install the brake drums the threads on the axle shafts are damaged and sheared off as they screw the nut back on ... as you have seen.

Most damage is in the first 3/8 inch or so as they force the stripped/damaged threads back on and they wonder why the nut goes back on so hard.

If one insists on using this method at least remove the nut first, reverse it and beat on the flat end instead of the "castle" end. This does less damage BUT still deforms the threads on the shaft and nut somewhat.

If you screw a nut on and it goes easily for about 3/8 to 1/2 inch then gets hard to turn ... It would be a good idea to find an undamaged nut!

I wonder how many times someone has dropped an axle nut and it rolled under the bench ... "Oh I have more of those in the can over there" ... they pick out a nut the has the castles all bent and proceed to strip the threads on their axleshaft.

Image if they had just spent $1500 (new axles are about $400 each) to replace both axles and rebuild the rear end?

Also removing a camshaft timing gear by the same hammering method damages the threads on the cam and nut also, even though there is no castle nut the threads still get damaged by the hammering.
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01-13-2012, 09:29 AM	#11
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Highlands, Cen~Col Posts: 2,896	Re: Most helpful or amazing thing you've learned Re: Damaged Rear Axle Theads ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever seen axle shafts with the first 3/8 to 1/2 inch of threads all stripped? I wondered why it is always the first 1/2 inch that is damaged. One cause besides crossthreading is when someone removes the brake hub/drum assemblies. 1. Using a puller is the best way to remove the hub/drum. 2. The common method does the most damage. People loosen the castle nut a couple of turns and hammer on the nut with a BFH to loosen the hub ... wrong wrong wrong! When they beat on the "castle" nut the internal threads on the end of the nut are deformed by the hammer blows. Then when they try to install the brake drums the threads on the axle shafts are damaged and sheared off as they screw the nut back on ... as you have seen. Most damage is in the first 3/8 inch or so as they force the stripped/damaged threads back on and they wonder why the nut goes back on so hard. If one insists on using this method at least remove the nut first, reverse it and beat on the flat end instead of the "castle" end. This does less damage BUT still deforms the threads on the shaft and nut somewhat. If you screw a nut on and it goes easily for about 3/8 to 1/2 inch then gets hard to turn ... It would be a good idea to find an undamaged nut! I wonder how many times someone has dropped an axle nut and it rolled under the bench ... "Oh I have more of those in the can over there" ... they pick out a nut the has the castles all bent and proceed to strip the threads on their axleshaft. Image if they had just spent $1500 (new axles are about $400 each) to replace both axles and rebuild the rear end? Also removing a camshaft timing gear by the same hammering method damages the threads on the cam and nut also, even though there is no castle nut the threads still get damaged by the hammering. __________________ Last edited by Benson; 01-13-2012 at 10:10 AM.