U-bolt nuts getting loose

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Twice now, about a couple 100 miles after having the rear axle off/back on, i've found some of the nuts on my U-bolts to be loose. 2 of the 4 on each side. Kinda freaky.

Is this normal?
The first time I had put on new U-bolts ... 2nd time i didn't (I know, I know), it was only about 700 miles later.
 
Are you using the "hi-nuts"? The ones that are about 2x as tall as standard nuts... Those take repeated removal and reinstallation much better in my experience.

You may just have to get a new set.

OTOH, if you put them on and never checked until 700 miles later, it can be normal to need to tighten up a few.
 
The u-bolts will stretch, so it is always a good idea to keep up with them for a while. Retighten a couple times, and they should be fine.
 
BigWheelBob said:
The u-bolts will stretch, so it is always a good idea to keep up with them for a while. Retighten a couple times, and they should be fine.
Click to expand...

this also happened to me. i imagined the u-bolts stretched as well.
 
Do you have lock washers or nylock nuts? You need one or the other.:beer:
 
spraypaintman said:
Do you have lock washers or nylock nuts? You need one or the other.:beer:
Click to expand...

Uhhh, no... hi nuts aren't locking, and I've had to re-torque them far less than the nylocks on the front axle.

Lock washers suck anyway.
 
1- As stated Ubolts do stretch, after 700 miles a retighten is normal.

Personally I like high nuts, with a loctite soaked jam nut. Sucks for on trail repair I suppose, but I have never pulled an entire axle assembly on trail, think Id just drag and load at that point...
 
I never said hi nuts were locking. You don't even know if he has them. :flipoff2:

You have to torque down all of your hardware at least twice on a build no matter what you use.

:D :D
 
spraypaintman said:
I never said hi nuts were locking. You don't even know if he has them. :flipoff2:
You have to torque down all of your hardware at least twice on a build no matter what you use.
:D :D
Click to expand...

True, but you said he needs either nylocks or lock washers. I'm using neither, and haven't had them come loose.
 
I use a good grad lock washer under the high nuts( never heard them called that before. I do re-torque after a while. If you want to know if it is u-bolt stretch or nut backing off, it's simple. After install and paint, scratch a mark on the nut , washer and plate.

A jam nut works great too if it's backing off. Was fixing a center bolt once on the trail and it stripped out. Had to tack weld one side and torque the other side. It held fine.

Silly cone on the threads helps too. fills voids in thread area but you are able to back it out without as much force as with lock tight. Also serves as a dampener if vibrations are what is causing it to back off
 
He is the the one with the loose nuts not you Rich. LOL. Maybe he has some vibrations that you don't have and he should use something to keep his nuts on. haha....Ratlab is gonna love this one...:lol:

Seriously though...you could try lock washers, nylock nuts or even use some locktite like skyhi did. I have lock washers on mine and they are tightskies!

:beer:
 
upnover said:
I use a good grad lock washer under the high nuts( never heard them called that before.
Click to expand...

When I ordered my u-bolts from Springs & Things, that's what they told me the trade name was for the nuts that are much taller than normal.. Dunno if they are FOS, but works for me.. :)
 
Rich said:
When I ordered my u-bolts from Springs & Things, that's what they told me the trade name was for the nuts that are much taller than normal.. Dunno if they are FOS, but works for me.. :)
Click to expand...

"high nut" is a standard term used in the industry, google if you doubt. :wheel:
 
Good God, busy day at work, forgot about this, and look what I missed!
Yes, using high-nuts. They're like an inch tall. I like my nuts as big as is sensible, and then some :huggy:
Pretty sure I have a normal washer beneath (well, above) them, don't think it's a lock washer. Whatever the guy at Spring Rebuilders gave me.

Sounds like normal stretching. Good to know. I'll tighten.

Unfortunately after only this last few hundred miles sicne put on teh 2nd time they've rusted alot, nuts don't turn so easily.
In the future - is it normal to spraypaint 'em to prevent that?
 
i spray painted mine.... i'm running BDS u bolts that came with normal washers like you said you have and the high nuts.... one of mine didn't get painted somehow... whoops... but it has not developed rust... perhaps mine have a nickel coating or something....
 
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