Rear hub nuts won't budge - advice needed please

[neil4444]

Hi all,

I'm still stripping down the IRS on my S1 3.8 and can't get the hub nuts to budge. I've removed the split pins and have tried heat, brute force, etc but still I can't move them. Am I turning them the correct way ? Should they all undo anticlockwise or are they threaded according to rotation of the roadwheel (i.e. as per the splined hubs) ?

I've searched the forum but can't find anything related to this problem so any help/guidance would be very much appreciated.

Regards,

Neil

[abowie]

They are normal threads and undo anticlockwise. They really shouldn't be all that tight. Maybe the PO has Locktited them on. Mine came undone easily.
Maybe try an impact wrench.

[neil4444]

Thanks Andrew, at least I now know I'm turning them in the right direction. They are SERIOUSLY tight. I did read that they sometimes used locktite on them. Will try impact wrench now.

[neil4444]

Still won't budge

[christopher storey]

Neil

One of my most useful tools in my rebuild was a 3 feet long length of steel tube ! This, over the end of a socket wrench tended to solve most problems . The torque required for these is usually something in the region of 150 lbs-ft so they can take some undoing, and most normal length levers do not provide enough leverage for people of normal strength . The only other suggestion I would make is judicious use of heat - a hot air gun may help as flame is a bit risky near to the alloy hub carrier unless you are very careful

[neil4444]

Thanks Chris. I too have such a bar but as the IRS is off the car it all just kept moving so had little to lever against. However having spoken to Hutsons I have just applied more heat & more violence - job done :D

[PeterCrespin]

Did this on Saturday on a rough old FHC and a tip to save fishing about pulling bent bits of split pin out is to just drill down the middle of the stub axle. The pins are quite soft and a sharp bit about 1/4" or less will just destroy the centre section and the rest falls out from the castellations each side. I put the car in first gear and used my 3/4" socket set and breaker bar after the air impact wrench was taking too long chattering away.

Pete