How do I remove this axle spindle nut?? - Honda Prelude Forum

99_SH · 05-17-2002, 05:54 PM

I just bought an axle nut socket to remove that big brass nut. Anyway, people say remove it with the wheels attached so it'll be easier. One problem, the socket is really big and beefy therefore it wont fit through the wheel's center cap. How am I suppose to remove this thing??

71dsp · 05-17-2002, 06:18 PM

I used a regular 3/4" drive socket and it fits with the wheel on just fine. You're going to need a hell of a breaker bar. Mine is a 3 1/2 foot long 3/4" drive Snap On breaker bar. Makes very quick work of those pesky nuts. Also, don't forget to unstake the nut.

In a pinch (because 36mm 3/4 drive sockets are nearly impossible to find), you can find a 3/4" drive standard socket that fits close enough. IIRC, it's a 1 7/16", but check my math to make sure.

I tried using 1/2 drive sockets and such, but I would literally twist the 1/2 drive part right off. I have twisted 3 3/4" drive to 1/2" drive adapters doing this.

99_SH · 05-17-2002, 06:38 PM

My bad, I just checked if the socket will fit and sure enough it does

Now you got me worried, because I was planning to use 1/2" drive tools. I'm gonna go back to the hardware store to see if they have any 3/4" equivalent. Last problem, what did you use to unstake/stake the nut? Will a screwdriver work?

71dsp · 05-17-2002, 06:41 PM

1/2" drive works fine to install the nut because you only have to torque it to 181 lb*ft. To remove it, however I would estimate that it takes 400+ lb*ft. We tried using a 350 lb*ft impact to remove the nut, and it didn't work. The breaker bar ended up working much better.

To stake and unstake the nut, I used a couple of different chisels (wide and narrow) and a hammer.

apocalypse · 05-17-2002, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 71dsp
1/2" drive works fine to install the nut because you only have to torque it to 181 lb*ft. To remove it, however I would estimate that it takes 400+ lb*ft. We tried using a 350 lb*ft impact to remove the nut, and it didn't work. The breaker bar ended up working much better.

To stake and unstake the nut, I used a couple of different chisels (wide and narrow) and a hammer.

i broke a breaker bar getting a axle nut off
ended up using a socket wrench and a 3 1/2 foot pole attached to it with me and my boy pushing on it until the socket wrench shattered and then i had one more left and the same pole and it finally gave

i hated my 4th gen for this

dudewithlude · 05-18-2002, 01:47 AM

Had the same problem last weekend. I had the breaker bar and socket. The only problem was that just unstaking the nut was hard. I broke a couple of punches and bent a needle nose plier. The nut is staked so tight that, it does not look like it can be unstaked with a chisel due to lack of spacing between spindle and nut. Did you have to split the nut with the chisel? Will try it again this weekend also. Need to change out the front wheel bearing. There should be FAQ section on this even, though it looks so simple.

kevie88 · 05-18-2002, 02:03 AM

Have a monkey hold the brake while the car's on jackstands with the front wheels off, then do the breaker bar thing... mine came right off.

dudewithlude · 05-18-2002, 03:04 AM

Tried that. I thought I was going to break the breaker bar but, no movement whatsoever. The nut is staked. Have to loosen that first.

71dsp · 05-18-2002, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevie88
Have a monkey hold the brake while the car's on jackstands with the front wheels off, then do the breaker bar thing... mine came right off.

It's easier to unstake the nut, remove the center cap on the wheel, reinstall the wheel, put the car on the ground, set the parking brake, then remove the nut. That way it only takes one person.

71dsp · 05-18-2002, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by apocalypse

i broke a breaker bar getting a axle nut off
ended up using a socket wrench and a 3 1/2 foot pole attached to it with me and my boy pushing on it until the socket wrench shattered and then i had one more left and the same pole and it finally gave

i hated my 4th gen for this

With the my 3 1/2 foot breaker bar, I just have to put some weight on it, and the nut pops right off. The damn thing is so beefy that there's no flex. If you have a lot of flex (and you will with 1/2" drive tools), you have to bounce on it a bit.

71dsp · 05-18-2002, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dudewithlude
Had the same problem last weekend. I had the breaker bar and socket. The only problem was that just unstaking the nut was hard. I broke a couple of punches and bent a needle nose plier. The nut is staked so tight that, it does not look like it can be unstaked with a chisel due to lack of spacing between spindle and nut. Did you have to split the nut with the chisel? Will try it again this weekend also. Need to change out the front wheel bearing. There should be FAQ section on this even, though it looks so simple.

Yeah, Honda stakes the hell out of the nuts. I used a very tiny chisel and worked from the outside of the stake inward. What eventually ends up happening is that the chisel starts cutting the nut where the stake is (it's made out of a soft metal). Once I can get some clearance, I use a larger chisel.

I wouldn't try to crack the nut, it's under a lot of tension.

As for changing the bearings, good luck. You need a couple of Honda tools; dies for the press. My 12 ton press is too small to do the bearings, and I don't have the dies, so I took the steering knuckles to a shop. The knuckle is also not as flat as other models, so it's harder to get the damn thing to line up on the press. I am planning to sell my 12 ton press, though, and buy a 20 ton. That should be big enough. The shop I went to used a 50 ton, it was easily big enough.

hondaprelude88 · 05-18-2002, 11:35 AM

I popped that center cap out of the wheel unstaked it and used a impact gun on it came right off. wasn't so bad thats the easy part!