Has anyone used these when changing bearings?
Haven't had a need yet, but if so I would take a good hard look at using Stemco or similar. If I understand it correctly, it would seem to take some of the necessary "art" out of properly torquing bearings. Getting away from the lockring and associated cumulative error seems like a great idea to me. It's very difficult to get bearings to acceptable minimums using existing hardware. Granted, there are people who can do it.
Not knowing full details I would wonder if these nuts are fully adjustable in torque or limited to some preset torque. That would make a difference.
Respected posters on this forum have reported large improvements in driving characteristics when bearings are adjusted "to the gnat's a... ah, patookus."
Ken,
I have changed a couple of coaches over to this wheel nut. It is a labor/time saving device, that is if you are paying shop rate of $150 + an hour this will sure cut down on labor cost. The first time cost will be a wash as the cost of the new system is about $70 or at least the last ones that I got were . You will also need to buy a wheel nut socket and a torque wrench (if you don't have one) as a big azz pair of Channellocks won't work. The big improvement is they are locked on the spindle with a ratcheting device so no tabs to bend that can through off your final adjustment. They are reusable so the cost is a onetime thing. With all that said I did put a dial indicator on the ones that I have installed just to be sure, but I am old school.
Mike
Mike do you have part numbers and supply house for these nuts
Chris
Were you able to make minute adjustments...one click =? Said another way were you satisfied with the resolution?
Chris,
As far as a part number not all axles are the same. I take and measure the axle threads then take this along with the axle nut out to the truck supply store (East Texas Truck Equipment) so they can look up the correct one as there are a bunch of different ones. Any good truck shop can get the Stemco nut. Even with then located here in town they don't have a counter pick up, so everyone has to go through a dealer.
The click is the thing that locks the nut in place. The thing is once you have the final tightness you back off the nut a set amount. This back off is really what sets the end play. The process is a 3 step process that is explained in the paperwork that comes with the new nut assy. There most likely is a YouTube video on how to install them. When IT Pamela gets back I will see if she can find a video of the how to.
Mike
Go over to YouTube and look for STEMCO Zip-Torq 211 Instructions as I can't seem to get the link to load.
Pamela
Mike
On the ones you have done has the end play been good when checked with dial indicator. If not just redo again. Now to find the bearings, races and nut here in Dallas.
Ken
Ken,
1. Yes they were close when I backed the nut off the prescribed amount. I don't remember the exact amount of end play but I do remember that on one I ended up having to re tighten and do the final loosening as I loosened the nut too much which was no fault of the nut assembly. Backing off the nut for the final time is the trick to proper end play. One quarter turn on the nut was about .0005 or said another way 1/2 of 1 thousandth of an inch.
2. Yes jut re tighten and then back off.
3. Bearings go to Motion Ind. the wheel seal and nut go over to MHC Kenworth I use the one on Irving Blvd. when in town.
Hope this helps
Mike
Amazon has them.
Mike
Ok one last question do you really need a dial indicator or trust the nut. I guess I should buy one to be safe.
Ken,
That is a hard question to answer. Stemco believes that the if you follow the directions, you are good to go. I am old school and put a dial on them just to check. To me the closer you can get left side to the right side the better results you will have. With me being around dial indicators my whole life grabbing one is just second nature.
I know that is kind of vague rather than a yes or no but hope this helps you out.
Mike
I put the stemco pro-torque nuts on mine.
Mark