THSCC Forums

I was just checking for play in the wheel bearings on my trailer and found one with a slight amount of play. I could adjust the play out by tightning the nut about half the distance of the hole for the carter pin. The nut is six sided so to get the carter pin back in I had to keep turning the nut almost a sixth of a turn. It's not binding but is definitely very tight. I am not happy that I had to adjust it so tight. If I leave nut where it was the only thing holding it on is the carter pin because I can turn it by hand. The trailer is less that six months old if that matters.

Should I put it back were it was?

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Mitch Moore

Mitchell,

Assuming no one comes up with better specs:

Try torquing the nut to about 20 lb-ft while rotating the wheel back and forth. Then back off the nut up to one flat (60 deg) as needed to insert the cotter pin. If necessary, slightly loose is better than too tight IMHO. The torquing is to make sure the bearing is properly seated. The loosening is to make sure it isn't too tight. The nut is supposed to be "loose" and should rely on the cotter pin to keep it on. Usually there is a flat washer with a "key" that engages a slot on the spindle to keep things from "rotating" and breaking the cotter pin.

Dick

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Thanks Dick. I'll give it a try. The washer is not slotted though. I guess they were trying to save money by not using a slotted washer and spindle.

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Mitch Moore