Rear hub nut cracker tool
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
- rollercoaster
- Registered user
- Posts: 897
- Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
- 80-90 Mem No: 6231
- Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border
Rear hub nut cracker tool
Looking for what tool to buy to crack this nut.
I got the Empi thing but thats not going to do it,
how can I get it on while the wheels on the ground?
Its just for hammering when the drums off I guess.
So I have a decent 1/2inch drive socket set,
but no breaker bar in the set and no 46mm socket.
Should I just buy a socket,
or a 1/2 inch breaker bar and socket,
or is it going to take a 3/4 drive to crack it?
Perhaps its better to use an impact air socket,
be nice to have an excuse to get a compressor.
What have you used, what have you broken?
Whats a good investment and would be useful later too?
Thanks for any tips and links.
I got the Empi thing but thats not going to do it,
how can I get it on while the wheels on the ground?
Its just for hammering when the drums off I guess.
So I have a decent 1/2inch drive socket set,
but no breaker bar in the set and no 46mm socket.
Should I just buy a socket,
or a 1/2 inch breaker bar and socket,
or is it going to take a 3/4 drive to crack it?
Perhaps its better to use an impact air socket,
be nice to have an excuse to get a compressor.
What have you used, what have you broken?
Whats a good investment and would be useful later too?
Thanks for any tips and links.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever
Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
Learn as if you were to live forever
Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
- Oldiebut goodie
- Registered user
- Posts: 7295
- Joined: 18 Apr 2008, 01:19
- 80-90 Mem No: 11135
- Location: Eastern Angle
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
3/4" bar and socket + scaffold pole + body weight. Still bliddy hard to shift. 1/2" will just shear off.
Air gun wouldn't touch it.
Air gun wouldn't touch it.
1.6D 2019 VW T-Cross
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶
-
- Trader
- Posts: 2593
- Joined: 27 May 2009, 18:56
- 80-90 Mem No: 16628
- Location: hayling island
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
wd40 and wire brush the nut and into the threads, leave it an hour and do the same, try to get the threads as clean as possible its possible with a half inch breaker, but 3/4 has less flex, ive never needed a scaffold and have undone plenty, try not to force it, stand on the breaker bar bounce a little and wait for it to give
- Robsey
- Registered user
- Posts: 1171
- Joined: 19 May 2012, 20:45
- 80-90 Mem No: 11137
- Location: East Manchester
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
I use a 3/4 drive breaker bar with a 5ft long handle.
The nuts are tight, but a bit of rocking motion as you pull on the handle moved them for me.
The nuts are tight, but a bit of rocking motion as you pull on the handle moved them for me.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished
- rollercoaster
- Registered user
- Posts: 897
- Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
- 80-90 Mem No: 6231
- Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
I can imagine..
but have you seen the price of a 3/4 breaker bar and socket?
Supposing I was to drive a couple of miles back from a garage,
after they have cracked it for me?
Or do I really need a 3/4 inch socket set in my life?
I used to have one years ago and it was useful sometimes.
but have you seen the price of a 3/4 breaker bar and socket?
Supposing I was to drive a couple of miles back from a garage,
after they have cracked it for me?
Or do I really need a 3/4 inch socket set in my life?
I used to have one years ago and it was useful sometimes.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever
Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
Learn as if you were to live forever
Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
Maybe get the garage to do it, the later ones are mega tight compared to the early version nut .Last time i tried i was using 3/4 bar and socket and long scaffold and couldnt do it. Gave up and realised the bearings were still ok. Driving back with them cracked off a bit would be ok, pin in though.
1992 red lle 2.2 subaru 1990 rhd caravelle 2.2 subaru 1986 california import vanagon
- clift_d
- Registered user
- Posts: 3295
- Joined: 04 Oct 2012, 23:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 11695
- Location: Hackney innit
Rear hub nut cracker tool
I managed to pick up a slightly disheveled Norbar torque multiplier a few years back, which makes these hub nuts a piece of cake. It’s essentially a small gearbox that goes between your torque wrench / breaker bar and, in this case, your 46mm socket. It has a calibrated 5:1 ratio, so if you input 1 full rotation at 100Nm you get an output of 1/5 of a rotation at 500Nm. The only fiddle with it is setting up something suitable for the multiplier’s reaction arm to push against, such as a jack stand or, in the image below, one of the other hub nuts.
1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker Hightop syncro
- Davegrohl99
- Registered user
- Posts: 190
- Joined: 10 Jan 2019, 14:57
- 80-90 Mem No: 16802
- Location: Offaly, Ireland
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
I tried everything to remove the nut on my earlybay. Scaffolding pole etc nothing worked.
I ordered the empi tool and soaked the nut every night with WD40 for a week until the tool arrived.
It took a good 10 minutes of repeatedly whacking it from different angles but it finally came off with that tool.
With how tight my one was on I seen no other way to remove without the tool.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I ordered the empi tool and soaked the nut every night with WD40 for a week until the tool arrived.
It took a good 10 minutes of repeatedly whacking it from different angles but it finally came off with that tool.
With how tight my one was on I seen no other way to remove without the tool.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1981 Westfalia 2.0 CU engine.
1971 Early Bay Microbus.
1971 Early Bay Microbus.
- bigherb
- Registered user
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 5789
- Location: West Kent
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
I have broken 3/4" drive Britool breaker bars on them. Can be a totally seized especially from those who run without hubcaps.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 1912
- Joined: 10 Aug 2019, 23:30
- 80-90 Mem No: 17004
- Location: Coventry
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
Funnily enough I had to tackle the ones on the syncro the other day.
Right side came off after cleaning up the threads and pluggasing it and using the impact gun on it.
Passenger side wouldn't come off at all, I tried everything that I had available still didn't budge. So I got fed up after about 3 hours and drilled it in two and it still wouldn't budge til I whacked it with a drift.
Right side came off after cleaning up the threads and pluggasing it and using the impact gun on it.
Passenger side wouldn't come off at all, I tried everything that I had available still didn't budge. So I got fed up after about 3 hours and drilled it in two and it still wouldn't budge til I whacked it with a drift.
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
1979 LT 2.0CH Westy project
1979 LT 2.0CH Westy project
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 28
- Joined: 17 Nov 2018, 00:34
- 80-90 Mem No: 16780
- Location: Preston
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
I used the Empi spanner hammer thing and it worked with wheel on the ground but had to use a standard steel 14" wheel.
Will Scott
1989 Autosleeper Trooper
1.9 DG WBX 4 speed manual
1989 Autosleeper Trooper
1.9 DG WBX 4 speed manual
- Jim San
- Registered user
- Posts: 2206
- Joined: 21 Jan 2014, 20:01
- 80-90 Mem No: 13133
- Location: Wales / Shropshire border
- Contact:
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
It's always worth a try to tighten tight nuts even tighter - not always but sometimes your get a 'crack' and then releasing them is a bit easier.
I picked up a large spanner from an old member on here - years ago. It has a tube on to extend it a tad - and I used a gas pipe over the top of that (6ft of gas pipe is blardy heavy in its own right).
I picked up a large spanner from an old member on here - years ago. It has a tube on to extend it a tad - and I used a gas pipe over the top of that (6ft of gas pipe is blardy heavy in its own right).
1991 (LHD) Syncro kombi 1.9MTDi 1Z (Landy fuel pump) 215/70/16
Life's to short to drink s@@t beer.
'Roads? We don't need roads where we're going'
Life's to short to drink s@@t beer.
'Roads? We don't need roads where we're going'
- rollercoaster
- Registered user
- Posts: 897
- Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
- 80-90 Mem No: 6231
- Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
Ahhh I wondered how on earth that Empi could be used,
I do have some original 14" wheels stashed away, great!
I was wondering though, all that bashing..
would that maybe not good for the bearing housing?
I was just looking at the Empi tool before I read the posts,
and thinking what a waste, what could I use it for..
and thought I could weld up as a special tool!
Make it into a socket with a scaffold bar welded to it.
I am supposing it would be perfect metal to stick weld?
I made some years ago when I had a truck scrapyard,
lots of rusty nuts to crack there, I learned a trick I can share:
When the fat blokes hanging on the end of the bar,
tap the side of the socket with a nice little hammer,
it does the crack, quicker than using purely the torque.
Anyhow I will get to the plus gas and thread cleaning now.
I do have some original 14" wheels stashed away, great!
I was wondering though, all that bashing..
would that maybe not good for the bearing housing?
I was just looking at the Empi tool before I read the posts,
and thinking what a waste, what could I use it for..
and thought I could weld up as a special tool!
Make it into a socket with a scaffold bar welded to it.
I am supposing it would be perfect metal to stick weld?
I made some years ago when I had a truck scrapyard,
lots of rusty nuts to crack there, I learned a trick I can share:
When the fat blokes hanging on the end of the bar,
tap the side of the socket with a nice little hammer,
it does the crack, quicker than using purely the torque.
Anyhow I will get to the plus gas and thread cleaning now.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever
Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
Learn as if you were to live forever
Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 28
- Joined: 17 Nov 2018, 00:34
- 80-90 Mem No: 16780
- Location: Preston
Re: Rear hub nut cracker tool
I think it could damage both the bearings and the beraring housing. I've taken the bearing housings round to my local garage to replace the bearings for and will let you know if I've knackered the housings. The next problem I've got is trying to re- torque the hub nuts to 500nm. The Empi thing definitely shouldn't be used for re- tightening
Will Scott
1989 Autosleeper Trooper
1.9 DG WBX 4 speed manual
1989 Autosleeper Trooper
1.9 DG WBX 4 speed manual
- clift_d
- Registered user
- Posts: 3295
- Joined: 04 Oct 2012, 23:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 11695
- Location: Hackney innit
Rear hub nut cracker tool
If you leave the wheel fitted, and in contact with the ground, then I doubt you’ll do much damage to the bearing housing, as you’re effectively hammering against the wheel and hub as an anvil. The bearing housing likely gets much worse from knocks and potholes in the road.
1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker Hightop syncro