Spindle Nut Socket

[BusaDave9]

I have some work to do on my front axle. I need to replace bearings and ball joints. I don't want to tear into my jeep until I know I have everything I need to finish the job.
One thing I know I need is a spindle nut socket. It's big, like 2 or 3 inches. Does anyone know what size I need? The manual doesn't say. The parts stores have a few sizes but they don't know what size I need. If someone has one that they've used on a CJ could you please check or measure it so I know what to buy.
Thanks

 

[Old Dog]

Dave, with a tapemeasure I get 2 1/16". It fits a little loose though so the nut might be 2".

 

[IOPort51]

He is right Dave a 2 1/16". you can get one at most auto parts stores. It won't look like much , kind of a piece of pipe that has been dented to fit the nut and a round plate with a square 3/8 drive hole in it on the other end. It is not more than $15 as I remember.

 

[hole]

Just got one from napa $40 I called around and they where the only one's to have it. Oh yeah, It's 2 3/32

 

[BusaDave9]

Thanks guys! I used to have one but got rid of it when I sold my previous CJ.

I Just got done calling all around town asking for one. Most places said they couldn't even order one that small. NAPA said they couldn't order one that big. A spindle nut socket has an extra thin wall. I almost wanted to ask if I could could "talk to your co-worker so I could ask the same question". A good auto parts store is not one that has all the parts, it's one that has people that know what they are talking about.

Hole, I don't suppose you still have the packaging. If I could get a part number I could order one. Otherwise I could get one on-line but then I would have to pay for expedited shipping since I want to do this next weekend.

EDIT: Actually at $40 I could probably pay for expedited shipping and still come out ahead.

 

[IOPort51]

I don't know any thing about the vendor but here is the socket.

1959-1983 Jeep CJ5 Spindle Nut Socket, 59-83 Jeep CJ5 Omix Spindle Nu at BestDeals

 

[dpuck]

try here
https://napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?A=SER2430_0006402220&An=0

 

[jamie]

i just bought a 55 millimeter socket. while it was a bit too big, i dimpled each wall of the socket till it was just right. it was the only one that was close at any of the surrounding parts stores

 

[BusaDave9]

Thanks everyone. One thing I hate is tearing my Jeep apart to find out I don't have everything to finish the job.
I ordered a spindle nut socket on-line. I should have it before next weekend. And unless there is something else I forgot I will have it done that same weekend. Oh, and by the way, I did check to make sure I had my Ball Joint Preload adjusting tool.

Now, maybe I can enjoy my CJ tomorrow.

 

[hole]

try here
https://napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?A=SER2430_0006402220&An=0

That's the one!

 

[dpuck]

That's the one!

It is a 3/4" drive, so you will need a reducer to 1/2".

 

[IOPort51]

mine is 3/8 drive.

while we are all here, how do we set the pre load on wheel bearings??
I torque to 50# and back off 1/4 turn. I can't say why, just the way someone, somewhere, sometime, told me to do it. seems to be working so far.

It is a 3/4" drive, so you will need a reducer to 1/2".

 

[dpuck]

mine is 3/8 drive.

while we are all here, how do we set the pre load on wheel bearings??
I torque to 50# and back off 1/4 turn. I can't say why, just the way someone, somewhere, sometime, told me to do it. seems to be working so far.

Actually, I think it is 1/8 turn.

 

[BusaDave9]

My manual says torque to 50 ft/lbs and then back off 1/3 of a turn if it is a '77 to '79. Or if it's a '80 to '86 back off 1/6 of a turn.
I do think it is a good idea to rotate the rotor when you are doing this. The whole point of tightening and loosening the spindle nuts is to seat the bearings and I do think it helps seat them by rotating. They get down to their normal location.

 

[dpuck]

My manual says torque to 50 ft/lbs and then back off 1/3 of a turn if it is a '77 to '79. Or if it's a '80 to '86 back off 1/6 of a turn.
I do think it is a good idea to rotate the rotor when you are doing this. The whole point of tightening and loosening the spindle nuts is to seat the bearings and I do think it helps seat them by rotating. They get down to their normal location.

Agree 100%

 

[BusaDave9]

I got the work done on my front axle today. I found a lot of contradictory information everywhere but the spindle nut is 2 1/16 inches. The socket has to be thin walled and from comments in this thread I guess it can be a little big since it doesn't need a lot of torque.
After I got started I also notice i needed a new axle U Joint and the inner spindle bearing was shot.
I hate having to run to the parts store several times during a repair. I ended up replacing every wear item. Here's the list:

1. Inner and outer wheel bearings
2. Seal
3. both ball joints
4. Axle u-joint
5. inner spindle bearing

The inner spindle bearing is often forgotten about. It guides the axle shaft in the spindle.
Here's the list of special tools I used:

1. Spindle nut socket
2. Ball joint press
3. Ball joint spanner wrench (also called a ball joint preload adjusting tool)
4. bearing greaser
5. Torque wrench

I really wish I had the above lists before I started because I still ran to the parts store a few times. One thing that got me was torqueing the ball joint nuts. The nuts are 1 1/4 and 1 5/8. The only sockets I had for that were for 3/4 inch drive but my torque wrench is half inch drive.
I only did one side but after seeing what parts were worn I will be doing the other side. At least now I know what to have on hand.

 

[wtinker]

Just ran into this tonight and (after several return trips) found that Advanced Auto has a 2 &3/5th Axle Nut Socket that works great. $16.

 

[CJ8er]

Just for future reference, $40 sockets frighten me.
i am in the middle of this project myself on my wife's '85 CJ8 resto so had to do a little searching.
Here is the correct tool for $9.25 from a parts vendor dedicated to Jeep parts.
Although i wound up taking both off with my Channel lock pliers, i ordered the part to have on my next project....my '81 CJ8 .

http://www.carparts.com/details/Jee...ut/1979/A692N.html?TID=bngpla&origin={adtype}

I guess you'll need to cut and paste that link.
From Carparts.com
PN.# A692N
Fits CJ, all submodels from '76 to '86.

 

[IOPort51]

unfortunately , I believe the 81 has a different style nut. It has something like a section of pipe with 4 1/4 " square studs at 12, 3, 6 and 9:00.

Just for future reference, $40 sockets frighten me.
i am in the middle of this project myself on my wife's '85 CJ8 resto so had to do a little searching.
Here is the correct tool for $9.25 from a parts vendor dedicated to Jeep parts.
Although i wound up taking both off with my Channel lock pliers, i ordered the part to have on my next project....my '81 CJ8 .

http://www.carparts.com/details/Jee...ut/1979/A692N.html?TID=bngpla&origin={adtype}

I guess you'll need to cut and paste that link.
From Carparts.com
PN.# A692N
Fits CJ, all submodels from '76 to '86.

 

[DHugg]

Busa, I just finished the same drill; all new moving and bearing surfaces on a Dana 30 CJ7 1980. I used new Timken bearings and races, with the proper socket to tighten. I found that no matter what pressure I torqued the bearings to, I could still spin both front wheels by hand. Wasn't expecting that, but decided to leave them torqued to spec and back off none at all.

Very happy with the way it steers, except that too little pressure needed to rotate steering wheel now; gotta stay alert, heads up all the time. I will need to tighten up the steering box now.