Axle Nut Torque

Joe/Ct

Joe/Ct

Senior Member
Just checked the rear brakes on our '39 coupe and noticed that the castle nuts on the axle were just finger tight. I read somewhere that they should be torqued to 150 ft-lbs. Is that correct or should the nut just be finger tight? I could find no torque referenced in the 1939-48 Shop Manual. (Maybe that is why the car is so hard to push when on a level ground.)
 
Thanks all for the input.

I have a second question....what are the NAPA equivalent part numbers for the wheel end of the axle? I am particularly interested in the number for the grease retainer/gasket (PN 1183).
 
Just replaced the drivers side axle for the second time in 70,000 miles, (hub wallowed out and not making contact over larger part of axle surface.) When installing NOS hub, axle, bearings, and seals, I inquired about the axle nut torque. Received many answers, with torques from 120 up to 270 ft. lbs. I set torque at 180, drove it a few miles, re-torque to 200, and a few more miles. Final torque to 235, drove a few miles, and this time it stayed at 235 lbs. I just knew that I was going to strip the threads off the nut / axle, but everything was O.K. (I used new nuts). One of my seasoned Model-A / Early Ford Club friends told me that he had never seen a new axle nut or axle strip the threads....
 
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