Having devil of a time with spindle washer removal

[Lsufan112001]

Changing out the brakes from drum to disc. I've gotten to the washer that's located between the spindle nuts. And i can't get it to budge and there is no tool to get in between the holes and spin it. How can you get the channel to line up with the washer's inside notch so it can come out, especially when you can't even see the notch?

is there a way to break it?

what are my options here? TIA

 

[Boss Hugg]

Use a screw driver and a hammer to knock it around in the counter clockwise direction. Sounds like the outer nut twisted the inner nut when it was "torqued" down.

 

[JSBX]

Put a punch flat on the washer and hit it with a hammer a couple of times moving around on the washer then try getting behind the washer with a pick that has the 90 degree bend at the end and pull it out. May need 2 of these picks This has worked for me at times.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, X2 on the machinist scribe, the pick with the 90* end. You stick the 90* end into the notch on the inner locknut and pop the washer out. Good luck

 

[DirtDonk]

Sounds like your washer's tang is no longer lined up with the groove in the spindle. That correct? If so, bummer...
Hopefully it's just the washer that's buggered and there is not a big gouge in the spindle. But since you're replacing the spindles anyway presumably for the disc brakes, you should be good.

I've seen that happen many times, but without knowing what was done during installation I don't really know what causes it to happen. The most obvious thing would be if the washer was already partially ground up and the tang was no longer fully seating into the spindle.

When you get it out, better check that the inner spindle nut still has it's little pin sticking out. If not you'll need a new one.

Paul

 

[Lsufan112001]

yes, no telling when this was put on, and prior to my ownership of the truck (which was 1999). This is for a 71'.

It's not lined up and i have no idea where the washer's tang is. I finally got the washer to spin, but can't see much.

tried to pry up in the slot and get behind it, to no avail. i just want it out, and it's being replaced anyways with the new disc brake kit (including spindle).

just beat the hell out of the washer, and maybe it'll break?

 

[Boss Hugg]

just beat the hell out of the washer, and maybe it'll break?

It happened to me once. I had to get the washer to spin on the spindle. If the pin on the inner nut in in a hole (use a pick to feel each hole to figure that out), the washer may have to be knocked around until the pin breaks or the nut breaks free. At either point, the washer will come off pretty quickly after.

 

[DirtDonk]

My first thought is "good luck with that!" but on second thought, a good sharp chisel and heavy handed hammer method might just do the trick. Won't hurt anything but the parts that are not important I don't think. Be pretty hard to harm the knuckle itself, and that's the only thing that stays.

If you can spin the washer, how far around does it go? If you can spin it all the way you can probably get it to the slot and pull it out. At this point you'd be fighting the usual issue of hydraulic stiction where the grease is holding the washer up against the inner adjusting nut. At that point if you can verify that what's left of the tang is lined up with the slot, then your pick-n-pull method would work.
I sometimes use snap-ring pliers too. One pin each in a hole, squeeze and it grips the washer that way. Never noted an advantage between inner or outer snap-ring pliers, but you can try both just to see.

Hopefully the washer spins enough to line up.

Paul

 

[Lsufan112001]

i managed to break it in half with a chisel. so it's now free and the hub is off.
hopefully the other side isn't like this one (but it probably is), but i now know what to do.

thanks guys,