Axle rust? Spindle Nuts?

[Begle1]

How big of a concern is surface rust on axle shafts? One of mine has some pretty good worts in the middle of it.


What is the opinion on spindle nuts? I take it that OEM application used two nuts and a locking plate?

Because all my axle has are Nylocks; one of them was so old and beat to hell that it started to back off on me, I caught it with about 1/4" of play. I figured I'd go back to the plate and nuts, but NAPA wanted $50+ dollars a piece for those kits and they only could get me one set by tomorrow, so I bought two new Nylocks off the shelf. I figured I'd give them another chance to kill me.


What is the little metal tag under one of the differential cover bolts good for?

[PToombs]

I'd say the rust isn't good. It will weaken the axle there because it eats the steel. How long it will last is anybodies guess.

OEM was the nylock with the little wedge to hold it. I don't know when they switched from 2 nuts and a disc to the nylocks. I went from working on mid '80's dodges to my '92, so some place in between there.

The tag has the axle ratio on it, or if it's like mine, used to.

[dpuckett]

Rust on your axle shafts is a sign of water in the axle tube sometime up the line. Take some sandpaper or emery cloth, and wipe the rust off, and then clean it off with your favorite parts washer. Change the diff oil and be on your way. The steel the axle shafts is made of is hard enough that surface rust shouldnt affect it for most applications.

Daniel

[Begle1]

So the slot in the spindle was originally for a drive-in keeper and not locking plate?

How does a keeper work with a Nylock? Just a wedge that is driven against the threads and gums them up so they don't wanna come out?

I used the last of my RTV putting the axles back in without keepers...

[Richie O]

You will need to get those keepers. They slide in the groove and wedge against the nylon part. Puts a little cut right in the nylon and won't let it spin.

[Begle1]

A Nylock by itself sure didn't strike me as the most reliable option...

[Richie O]

There has been plenty of trucks that spin those out as well. Not a good system if you ask me.

[Begle1]

What's better than a locking plate?

[Begle1]

Did you know that those little locking tangs cost $13 a piece from the dealership and they only had one in stock?

[IowaCummins]

or a 1/2" self taping pan head sheet metal screw does the trick! well it has for me! when i re bearinged the rear end mine were no where to be found. so i used those self tappers and so far itsworking good. i had it at 15,000 after i did the bearings and checked them adn they still were tight. but i would love to uprade to the double lockign plates. what did GM use? maybe we can swipe soem stuff from them?