40 Ford rear axle nut

L-head

Senior Member
I have seen torque specs as high as 220ft/lbs for the rear axle nut. What is the correct torque on the rear axle nut?
 
This information was posted on Bill B's Techno website years ago. This is the specification that I use, but some will torque to a lower number, possibly because they do not have a torque wrench that will read this high.

The 'V8 Times', Sept/Oct 98 Issue, pages 46 and 48, quotes several Ford Service Letters and later corrections.
The final direction on tightening axle nuts reads: "tighten nut 356074-S to 200 to 220 foot pounds; then continue tightening to the next castellation providing final resultant torque does not exceed 275 foot pounds."
 
Would you believe I was helping a guy with his brakes. He said, let me remove the rear brake drum and show you the wheel cylinder. He grabbed a 6" crescent wrench and after removing the cotter pin, loosened the nut with it. Not only was it "just that tight", he had the taper greased. I almost dropped my teeth. I educated him on the spot. Obvious he doesn't know crap about old Fords, if any other makes for that matter.
 
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