How do you tighten your spindle nuts?

[Forrest]

Wondering how you tighten the spindle nuts on your travel trailer or 5th wheel. The spindles have a cotter pin and it seems that when you 'think' it's tight, the cotter pin doesn't line up. Other than using a torque wrench, is there a rule of thumb that applies & that is safe? Thanks.

 

[Doc Tinker]

On the school buses I tighten them to 50 ft lb and then back off to the first chance that I can insert the cotter pin.



On the trailer, I would tighten them until there is no end play (rocking in an out of the wheel), tighten the nut while spinning the wheel. After you do that, back off the nut to the first chance that you can insert the cotter pin. If the cotter pin fits without backing off that's OK, just make sure there is no pressure (pre-load) on the nut.



Doc

 

[Dieselnerd]

I tighten mine with a torque wrench to 50 ft# as a "preload" while I spin the wheel. Then without turning the wheel again, loosen the nut until you can turn the nut with your fingers. Tighten the nut with your fingers to the tightest place you can get the cotter pin through without using a wrench again. This is the procedure in my trailer maintenance manual and also similar to many articles in "Trailer Life". You will probably have a slight play in the wheel when grabbing it top and bottom and trying to wiggle it. This is fine. Sometimes you get no play if the cotter hole just happens to line up at the tightest point where you can tighten it by hand. Usually you have to back off an 1/8 of a turn to line up after the finger tightening. A slight play is good, too tight and the bearings run hotter. Similar to Doc's post only more long winded... ...

 

[Forrest]

Thanks Doc & Ron. All makes good sense.



I use to tighten as tight as I could by hand while spinning the wheel & then back off to get the cotter pin in place if needed. It worked until I had a failure on the way to the Grand Canyon. So started tightening with a crescent wrench past hand tight to the next place where the cotter pin would go in. Now I'll go get a socket & do the 50 ft-lb procedure.

 

[RBrunson]

Spindle nuts

Another good rule of thumb that I have used for meny years is to tighten nut, then back it off till you can move the washer that is behind the nut with a screwdriver. Washer should move with resistance, not too tight and not too loose, kinda like adjusting valves. Then rock wheel back and forth to feel if there is any play in the bearings. If there is very little play or no play and you can line up a cotter key hole, you have got it right on. On some cars like Porsche or VW they used a set screw or double nuts so you could set exactly as it should be. If you have never used this method before, it might take a little while to get the right "feel" as to the tightness, kinda like learning the right way to adjust valves. Have done it this way for over 40 years and no problems. Just another way to do it... for what its worth.