Front hub nut mk2 galaxy 115 zetec

[Ben g mon]

Ok, today I changed rear shocks no issues, however for the front after deciding to chop off the strut top cups and before starting (I have new struts built up and new cups etc) I checked the hub nut  on my new j and r driveshafts (as old driveshafts where knocking ) the type of driveshaft bolt  on car is hex head external (so like a bolt head) and the new one is internal (like an Allen key) do I have to renew the bolt or will I have to buy a tool? I was hoping to have this sorted before the weekend as I have a long trip to do. Thought I may have a chance as some cars hub nuts can be reused a couple of times max

Thanks in advance

[johnnyroper]

Officially I think you are supposed to replace the bolt however I reused the ones on my old Passat for the very same reason if memory serves correct I just used some loctite on them.

[Ben g mon]

Ok, I'll try that option.... thought I'd ask as I don't want to shut down the m25 Saturday morning due to lost metal work... if nothing adverse happens loctite wins

[johnnyroper]

Just make sure threads all look ok when it's out,not really sure why they say replace as they are not torque to yield bolts. They are just torque up to specified torque with no extra angle torque as far as I remember . I much prefer a standard hex bolt over Allen key type.
If you are worried about it you could always use old bolts until you get enough time to get new ones and fit them?

[insanitybeard]

There is an angle tightening stage involved for the 27mm headed front hub bolts- 150nm plus 90^o.

[johnnyroper]

Oh right I either remember totally wrong or obtained incorrect info as I just did a straight torque of about 180 I think. Have you had yours out,did you manage 150 plus 90 degrees?

Even so I never had any issues with mine and I re used a couple of times as the passats eat cv boots,maybe go with re use temp then change them when got more time?

[Ben g mon]

Ok chaps, I'll see if I can get a tool from some where, seeing as I have the new bolts then nowt to worry about, the threads did look quite fine in pitch

[insanitybeard]

Yeah, I've had to take the hub bolts out a few times- when replacing the front wheel bearing and also the inner CV boots. Using my 1/2" torque wrench I was able to get another 1/4 turn out of the bolts once I'd torqued them to the initial stage of 150nm, I couldn't have done much more than that though!

If you think that's tight, when I replaced the brake backplates on the Touran, I had to remove the rear hub/ wheel bearing assemblies- these were held on by size 18 XZN bolts (18 is the largest size of XZN fastener I've seen tools for so I don't think you can get any bigger than that), and the torque on those was colossal- 180nm plus 180^o- I ended up buying a metre long 3/4" drive breaker bar from machine mart to do those!

[Ben g mon]

Wow...
I had a ford escort rear hub (rear drum brakes)  at 320nm thought it was going to snap and did hear that  old split screen be campers rear hubs where 1000 nm!

[insanitybeard]

I've done a few Escort rear hub nuts in my time, IIRC some had a left hand thread on one side as well! Wheel nuts on artics and the like must have huge torques on them as well, and as for the hubs....... that's where you start needing torque multipliers or 1" drive air tools I suppose!

[Ben g mon]

Yeah, I think my mk5 escort may have had left hand thread...

I'm wondering if this internal hex head nut is going to need a different torque setting... read on a vw Passat forum that their external and internal have different settings and angles.
I haven't even started the chopping of top mounts yet!
Don't know how the galaxy passed mot, the top cup sits on the bulkhead flange when the cars on the floor!

[johnnyroper]

That's some big torque for bolts on cars I don't remember having figures like that on Vauxhall when I was in trade.

Had to do some big torque figures in past on rail vehicles, 1500nm is biggest I can recall using a torque multiplier. Recently had to do 1200nm with inch wrench luckily due to position was able to walk the wrench round. Railway is anal about replacing all fasteners every time they are removed even the washers!!