Couple Question on a 3rd Gen Axle Nut
#1
10-08-2013, 04:40 PM
Couple Question on a 3rd Gen Axle Nut
Hey all, so I have been looking all over town for a rental of a 300 ft lb maximum torque wrench as the axle nuts on my 2004 Dodge RAM 2500 need to be torqued to 263 ft lbs upon reinstallation. I called O'Reiley's and had a little convo with the guy that answered. He claimed that you should replace your axle nut once you go to ream it all back down because it acts like a thread locker or something and the threads may be worn after the removal..
What gives here?
So my 3 questions around this are as follows:
1.) Do I need to replace my axle nuts after removing them?
2.) It is looking like everybody in town only has 250 ft lb max torque wrenches... So, if I used one of these how would I do it? Torque it down to the max and then give it like another tenth of a turn or something?
3.) What is the best way to put these back on? Tighten it down while the vehicle is on the jackstands and then lower it on the tires and ream it down to 263 ft lbs?
Any replies will be greatly appreciated. Front end re-build starts in roughly 72 hours on this vehicle...
What gives here?
So my 3 questions around this are as follows:
1.) Do I need to replace my axle nuts after removing them?
2.) It is looking like everybody in town only has 250 ft lb max torque wrenches... So, if I used one of these how would I do it? Torque it down to the max and then give it like another tenth of a turn or something?
3.) What is the best way to put these back on? Tighten it down while the vehicle is on the jackstands and then lower it on the tires and ream it down to 263 ft lbs?
Any replies will be greatly appreciated. Front end re-build starts in roughly 72 hours on this vehicle...
Last edited by Bison9; 10-08-2013 at 04:42 PM.
#2
10-08-2013, 05:33 PM
Professional
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It wouldnt hurt to replace the nuts, although I just replaced both cv shafts on my 02 ram 1500 and reused the old ones because the new ones didnt have washers on them. 250 ftlbs is plenty, that extra 13 ftlbs wont make a difference, but if your really scared torque it to 250 and then give it a bit more. I never use a torque wrench on anything (besides internal engine work), good judgement is usually enough.
#5
10-09-2013, 08:02 AM
Yep! And unless I can find a 1/2 inch to 3/4 drive conversion, the idea of torqueing down to 250 and an eighth of a turn after that is still a no go... 
The socket I have for this is for a 3/4 inch drive and I will be using a 3/4 inch drive breaker bar and a 10 ft pipe to crack those axle nuts... Its getting it back on and torqued that will be the challenge
The socket I have for this is for a 3/4 inch drive and I will be using a 3/4 inch drive breaker bar and a 10 ft pipe to crack those axle nuts... Its getting it back on and torqued that will be the challenge
