Earlier today I replaced the front right axle on my '99 I30 and the install went smoothly until I took the car for a spin. The axle nut kept getting loose to the point where it will make a terrible grinding noise. I replaced the nut with a new one and took it for a much longer ride and no issues until just recently the axle nut comes loose again. ANY IDEAS AS TO WHY THE AXLE NUT GETS LOOSE LIKE THAT?

 

Did you torque it down correctly? Not just tight will do for it...IIRC that nut requires 30 ft/lbs plus another 60-66 degree rotation which equates to about 200 ft/lb of so. If you can't find the specs on the org just let me know and I'll take a look in the FSM.

 

How did you tighten it? If you're just using hand tools, (long flex handle, pipe on the end of ratchet, breaker bar, etc.) If so, make sure you are pulling up so that you use the ground as leverage.

 

also...ar you putting the cotter pin back in?

 

I've been searching and found the spec is 203 lbs ft. I've even tried torquing it down to 340 lbs ft with a electric torque gun and yes the cotter pin is in, without it the nut would literally come right off. Is there a possibility that the axle its been replaced with (used off a maxima btw) could be the cause?

 

I had the same problem until I bought a bigger cotter pin that allowed for it to seat properly against the nut. Go to napa/autozone or the closest auto parts store and buy a couple cotter pins in different sizes and see which one fits best. After you find the right one, slide it through the hole and bend it out against the nut so that it has no play. I used a flat head screwdriver and a hammer to get it to sit right and havent had a problem since.

Also, just to make sure, theres a metal "cover" (not sure what its called) that goes over the axle nut. If you're missing that then the nut will always back itself out.

 

same thing happens to my car all the time!! I even used lock tight and it only helped for about a month

 

You probably need a wheel bearing.

 

I use to have the same problem. When i did my 6spd swap i put in a new a wheel bearing and cv axle with nut, and it still was coming loose. I said f**k it and put some RED LOCK TITE on it. Hasn't come back loose yet(knock On Wood).

 

Had the same problem on my 1997 max come to think of it the guy who bought it from me said eventually he needed a wheel bearing. So that may have been the culprit. Uneven forces loosening the but. I just put another hub nut on. Double nutted it and it was fine

 

 

My i30 did that too. Abs/slip/tcs off light would come on but no noise. It did it twice. The second time I seen how loose the hub was and it dawned on me the wheel bearing was bad. Replaced it no problems

 

Im having the sane problem in my 98 max. Ive replaced wheel bearing, axle, and still backing off. It does have a cotter pin but it still tries to come off. I will use the advise given here and install a bigger cotter pin. I noticed the axle nut is not castellated nor does it have the castlelated cover. I will have to make a trip to the dealer and pick one or the other up.

 

lock tite or double nut

 

That will be the next thing I try if the first solution does not work. I just dont like using lock tite unless I really need to.

 

anyone know what size the axle nut is on the i35? I have a feeling that mine may be slighly loose.

 

I35 axle nut is 24mm x 1.5

 

thanks for that info

 

mine must be larger because the 24mm did not fit, gonna try a 26mm

 

its actually a 32 mm axle nut, both mine were loose.

 

any solutions that work to keep the nut from getting loose?

 

The ones I posted.

I only ever had my axle nut come loose once and I'm positive it was torqued correctly. I've used 2 nuts since.

 

Also did you guys reinstall the washers? I have never had an axle loose come loose but once, I only need a breaker bar and to use gravity plus body weight to get it to the point it torqued down. If it does keep coming lose make sure to use that cotter pin.