Immediate Brake Help Needed!!!

[kylekruchok]

I've got a '90 LX, and after removing the four bolts that hold on the rotor, I've got that nut in the center. Is there something special I've got to do? because what I'm doin' so far doesn't seem to do anything (lefty loosey, righty tighty).



The nut in the center! Thanks guys!

Oh, I already looked around, but couldn't find anything on that center nut. I notice there's a notch taken out of it... screwdriver or something?

[dragtek1]

Here goes:

Step one, soak the nut with penetrating oil (PB Blaster, WD 40)

Step two, drop the car to the ground with the wheels on and the center cap REMOVED. (That way you'll be able to get to the nut)

Have someone press on the brakes. Use a breaker bar to get it off. If I remember correctly, those are supposed to be torque'd to 150+ lbs, so they are pretty tight.

If it's still super tight, try adding a metal tube / pole to your breaker bar to get more leverage.

Don't worry, it's normal for these nuts to be superman tight lol.

[kylekruchok]

Here goes:

Step one, soak the nut with penetrating oil (PB Blaster, WD 40)

Step two, drop the car to the ground with the wheels on and the center cap REMOVED. (That way you'll be able to get to the nut)

Have someone press on the brakes. Use a breaker bar to get it off. If I remember correctly, those are supposed to be torque'd to 150+ lbs, so they are pretty tight.

If it's still super tight, try adding a metal tube / pole to your breaker bar to get more leverage.

Don't worry, it's normal for these nuts to be superman tight lol.

Thanks for the tip - it's a 36mm socket? (One which I don't have... DAMN!!! How'm I going to get to work tomorrow?!)

[djkurious]

Yes, it's the 36 mm. Try walmart tonight. They MIGHT have it.

[batever]

Thanks for the tip - it's a 36mm socket? (One which I don't have... DAMN!!! How'm I going to get to work tomorrow?!)

put your brakes back together or get a cab are the two options, unfortunately.


Autozone will "lend" you a 36 mm socket for $40 that they will refund when you return it. Don't forget to return it, that's an expensive way to get what should be a $10 socket.

On my 92 DX the rear axle nuts are 32 mm (drum brakes) and the front ones are 36mm.

PB blaster is much better than wd40 as a penetrant but really a 1/2 inch breaker bar and a 4 ft steel pipe over it will make that thing come off like butter. I use a 1 inch internal diameter steel gas pipe that the local hardware store cut for me. Bring your breaker bar in and make sure the pipe fits over it.

Or you can try using a big hammer, repeatedly, on the end of your breaker bar. Lefty loosey. 3lb or 5lb hammer should do it. Wear eye protection.

The "notch" is for the ring of the axle nut (that's what it's called) to get "staked" or bent into it with a chisel--intended as a safety measure to help ensure the nut doesn't back out. It looks like that axle nut in your photo wasn't staked.

When putting the axle nut back on, the torque spec on it is 181 lb-feet. I just put it to 150 lb-ft (the highest my torque wrench will go) then put my breaker bar and my 4 foot long 1 inch internal diameter steel pipe over it and nudge it a little tighter is how I retighten it.

[Vtec1nspir3dCB7]

186?! Good god... i need to retighten my axle nuts...

[frohawker]

for a breaker bar just grab your socket and socket wrench, slide your jack handle (if it's wide enough) over the end of your wrench and its instantly a 2-3 foot breaker bar.

[deevergote]

Everyone here is focusing on the hub nut... but the real difficult part is getting the rotors off. Search the DIY section of this site. There are at least 2 useful writeups for methods of removing the rotors. It's a pain in the ass.

[batever]

Everyone here is focusing on the hub nut... but the real difficult part is getting the rotors off. Search the DIY section of this site. There are at least 2 useful writeups for methods of removing the rotors. It's a pain in the ass.

so true.

[batever]

186?! Good god... i need to retighten my axle nuts...

In the interests of exactitude, I just looked it up to double check and it's 181 ft-lbs not 186. I've edited my earlier post to reflect the difference.

[RagingAsian]

I sure hope you have an impact wrench.

[batever]

Impact is nice in certain situations but really you can do it all with hand tools and a steel bar for leverage.

[CB7Jay1]

I feel your pain man, i got brand new brakes in my trunk, and cant put them one b/c i cant get the dam axle nuts off. I broke my socket wrench, a air-gun extesion, and my 2 foot long breaker bar! Autozone has a 36mm, or a 1.5 socket for $9.00.

You need to get a puller to get the hub off wich i hear is a PIA!

Ivee been riding it out, and spraying areo kroil and i still cant break it. So im cutting them off next week, and the nuts are $16 a piece!

ROH conversion next time for me...

[Vtec1nspir3dCB7]

Go grab extra nuts at the pick n' pull.

I had to cut my two front ones off when i had a shattered axle.
I know how it feels.

[Juan4DCB7]

taking that nut off is a pain in the ass. I put wd40 then tried to see if it'll budge, but nothing. Then I hit the edges of the nut with a file or something (can't remember what it was) then it moved and from there I used the breaker bar and boom.. got it out.

if it still does not budge, heat it up and then try it.