Can't break free front axle nut.

**firstdue** · 02-04-2012

OK I went to advance this morning and picked up two outer tie rod ends and a front wheel bearing. Tie rod was a piece of cake. Had to go back to get a 35mm deep well for the drivers side axle nut. For the life of me it will not budge. I've soaked it in nut blaster. I have about a 2' breaker bar on it. Beat the hell out of it with the rubber mallet. Even stood on the end of the breaker bar. I'm thinking it has red loctite on it as the nut blaster is tinted red after a few sprays. Any suggestions? I'm thinking I may have to take this one to the mechanic with his impact wrench. Thanks!

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**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 02-04-2012

Longer breaker bar, or impact the **** out of it.

**dsmuts** · 02-04-2012

Or if you are feeling daring you could put the breaker bar and socket on the nut then drive the car forward slowly and it'll break it free

**firstdue** · 02-04-2012

Lol, the deep wheel socket doesn't fit through the wheel cap opening.

Heading to Lowes to find a length of pipe.

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**Hippo Machine** · 02-04-2012

Sawzall.

**redlinepontiac** · 02-04-2012

a little heat on the nut

**Steel Armadillo** · 02-04-2012

Are you replacing the hub? If so, heat the shizz out of it with a Oxy/Acetelyne torch, or propane if that's what you have available (Oxy is hotter/better), then spin that beast, it will walk off for you.lol

If you can't/wont do that, get an impact wrench, it'll come off.

Just a word to the wise, an impact is one of the most important tools you can own, FWIW...

**Scottydoggs** · 02-04-2012

put the spare tire on, then you can get to the nut, and get a 4 foot pipe that fits your breaker bar, it will come off, leave the car on the ground and unbolt it.

**stealthee** · 02-04-2012

Get bigger balls and more muscles, although I will say I once picked a car up off the ground by the breaker bar/cheater pipe, because someone WAY overtightened it.

**98GPGT2D** · 02-04-2012

Find a buddy who has an Electric Impact gun with at least 300ft/lbs break away torque. Should be enough to rattle it loose. Makita makes a decent plug in electric 1/2 impact.

Jay

**firstdue** · 02-05-2012

4' cheater bar did the trick!! It was starting to bend a little....then broke free! New wheel bearing is in!! I killed the battery by leaving the ignition on, so i have to charge it before taking it for a ride. Hopefully its much quieter. Fairly simple job with the right tools.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 02-05-2012

make sure you torqued the new wheel bearing to 118 ft lbs. (axle nut)

**firstdue** · 02-05-2012

Thanks, yeah I think I torgued it to about 120.

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**firstdue** · 02-05-2012

All that work and still have the damn front end humming noise. I swear it sounds like its coming from the drivers side front. No noise when in park and moving stearing wheel back and forth. Only seems to increase with speed. Reminds me of my 1st car when i'd put snow tires on the rears...at higher speeds they had a hum to them. Any ideas? Thanks!!

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 02-05-2012

does the sound go away when you turn a certain way?

Because say the sound goes away when you turn left, that means the right wheel bearing is bad.

And tires can make noise tooo, what brand of tires are they?

**04BlackComp_G** · 02-05-2012

When I replaced mine front bearing I did both just so I had that peace of mind. While you're doing all that work might as well do it all around to ensure there are no issues.

**firstdue** · 02-05-2012

Yeah, I plan on doing the other one too. Actually the sound seems to go away when turning right....hard to tell because the sound deminishes at slower speeds.

The tires are Goodyear Eagle T/R's. Car has 55,000 miles and i'm thinking this is the 2nd set of tires. Still decent tread left on the fronts. I just recently rotated them.

I plan on putting it up on jack stands when i get home from work Tuesday....and letting it run to see if it still hums....this would eliminate the tires as an issue.