I'm looking for the part called "adjusting cap" in this picture. Kragen calls is "spindle retainer". Where can I order this part for cheap?



Jae

 

You can either buy a nut with splines on it so a cotter pin holds it in place or get that cap from Nissan.
Both items should be under a buck........

 

its called a castle nut.

 

its not a nut though...

it's an axle nut retainer...

 

+1 for the correct name.

You don't need that retainer if you use a castle nut instead.

Again, it should be around a buck at most local auto parts stores.

 

DO NOT use a castle nut on your front axles. use the right parts from Nissan or equivalent. a castle nut is NOT the right part to use to hold your wheel bearings together.


those retainer rings are cheap. They're $0.92 list from Nissan.
the nut itself is only $4.13 list.

 

WTF is the difference? i have seen them both ways. is my wheel going to fall off?

 

I have yet to see a castle nut installed from the factory on a Maxima.
The wheel bearings are fragile enough on these cars that I would be very wary of using anything that you have to torque to spec, then continue tightening until you get to an opening on the castle nut. it can possibly ruin the wheel bearing before you even finish putting the car back together! :

 

what would be the torque spec for the axle nut Matt?

 

hmmm, well i cant remember what car i replaced tha axle on but it didnt have the adjusting cap.

 

170-230ft.lb. Just as stated above.
With the common failure I see on wheels bearings with 3,4,5,6th gens and the VERY common occurence of the 5th and 6th gen axle nuts backing off, you want to run them right at max torque. go much over and it's possible to crack the inner race.. go under and the thing backs off, ruining the wheel bearing from slop in the hub. unfortunately it's a lose-lose situation with Maxima wheel bearings.

 

Probably yet another cost-cutting measure from Nissan. I noticed they were gone on the 6th gens and I think 5th gens as well. And they're the most common to kill wheel bearings. I've seen several cars come in with the axle nuts only being held on by the cotter pin. fortunately I hade a few retainer clips laying around in my spares bucket and stuck them on those cars after they came in a second time with loose axle nuts (even after replacing the bearings and torquing them to spec). Add the retainer clips and no more loose nuts.

 

youre the boss, thanks for the info. im surprised my dads bearings are still good then.

 

I've seen it go both ways. some torqued to 1000+ft lb and won't break loose, others that crack at 250. At $200 a bearing and hub to replace, I'd veer on the side of caution. :shrug: