Axle boot replacement warnings

[Bernard Littau]

> It makes no difference to the bearing whether you tighten the axle nut
with
> the car in the air or on the ground. Been doing it with the wheels off the
> ground for close to 30 years and haven't had a problem yet. The caution
> about moving the car with the axle removed is valid.  John
>

It strikes me that people may be confusing the 'rules' for  tightening the
rubber bushing mounts on the front axle suspension with the 'rules' for
tightening the front axle nut.

The axle nut is big torque.  Good idea not to try this one on jack stands.
I can't even imagine how to do it while on jack stands -- how you gonna hold
the hub while you torque the nut?  That being said, the car cares not if you
tighten it in any particular position.

The rubber bushing mounts, however, need to be in their relaxed state (with
no twist in the rubber) when the car is in its relaxed state (parked with
all four wheels on the ground).  If you tighten to spec the nuts holding the
rubber bushings while the wheels are in the air, the rubber will get much
twist when the wheels are lowered.  The rubber will then get even more twist
when you hit a bump.  This causes premature failure in the rubber bushings.
The 'rule' for the bushings is to barely finger tight the nuts while the car
is in the air, then lower the car to the ground and bounce on it a few times
to seat the rubber bushing.  Then, with the car still on the ground, tighten
to spec the nuts holding the rubber bushing.

Best,

Bernard Littau
Woodinville, WA
'88 5ktq