Spindle lock nut tool HELP!

[ObscureMachine]

Okay, so I'm trying to pull the hubs off. The spindle lock nut socket that I bought at A-zone isn't working. I borrowed one before, but can't get my hands on it now.

It looks like the one I used before, but when I get it on the nut, and start to apply pressure to the ratchet, it pops off. I can't get it to stay on for anything. Am I missing something? Could I have bought the wrong size??? Neighbor told me to use a screwdriver and a hammer. Sounds problematic to me.

Any thoughts?

Jim

 

[72Sport]

If you have the one with the 4 tabs exposed that could be your problem. The socket with the ring around the 4 tabs helps keep the socket aligned and on the lock nut. The exposed tab type is used on later things such as 80's Broncos.

 

[Smokeater11]

You will have to find the socket that has the pins on the inside of the socket. There is a thread about them on here somewhere. Run a search and see what you find. The socket is kinda hard to explain but once you see one you can probably rent one from Vatozone unstead of buying one.

 

[SWFLABRONCO]

I'm not sure if it matters, but what axle do you have? I installed a 44 on mine and used the 4 tab $10 cheapy from Autozone, and it worked great. I know there are some posts here about though. Just run a search.

 

[ObscureMachine]

I have a dana 44. Tried the one with the four tabs sticking out, but it slipped off every time I used it no matter how much pressure I put on it. Then I went back to A-zone and got one that had the pins inside the socket, but it was too big and wouldn't fit inside the hub.

Tommorrow I'll go to a different parts store and see what I can find. If the one with the four tabs sticking out is the one, not sure what I'll do next.

 

[Mark]

Complete Offroad sells the good spindle nut socket.

http://completeoffroad.com/wsm/i-745_spindle_nut_socket_-_dana_44_4_prong.html

Here's a picture of the good one and the crappy. I have the crappy one for the time being. Mine slips off too. I have to hold it with one hand sometimes to keep it on. You can have the wife/girlfriend or buddy hold onto it if you have to apply a lot of force to break the nut loose.

 

[SteveL]

Kragen sells the better style. There are 2 sizes of them. I think the dana 44 takes the smaller of the 2.

 

[mike732]

I have both types and both will come off if not carefull, when it is giving me trouble I use the air wrench and it will usually break it loose before coming off..

 

[SWFLABRONCO]

I should have mentioned while using the crappy one, I put an extension on my impact gun and loosened it. It didn't slip off. I'm sure using a ratchet puts some wierd angles on it when applying force.

 

[deltarat]

I've been using the crappy one for 34 years not knowing they made anything else. Never had any nuts that I couldn't get off. I usually take them off with an air wrench and put them back with a ratchet. Just hold in with one hand and tighten with the other.