Front Spindle Nut

[drroccostein]

Went to repack the front bearings and found that the hex bolt was stripped.

What is the best method to remove the hex bolt, so I can remove the spindle nut? Drill or cut?

[944 Ecology]

I assume that the inside of the allen bolt is stripped. If that is the case, you may be able to loosen it by using a small vise grips on the outside of the bolt head while using an allen key on the inside of the bolt head and turning both the allen key and the vise grips at the same time.

If the threads of the allen bolt are stripped, you may be able to rotate the spindle nut with (surprise) a vise grips.

Of course, you don't want to damage the threads of the spindle.

I don't think that I have ever seen this kind of problem on anything I have worked on.

gb

[drroccostein]

Good idea, but like you said you don't want to screw up the threads. I am going to drill the head of the hex off and then try and remove the balance of the bolt. If all else fails I will cut the spindle nut off, they are only $30 at the dealership.

[944 Ecology]

Ah, once the head is drilled off, you should not have to remove anything to get the spindle nut off.

gb

[Brando]

Spindle nut? You mean the large castle nut?

VW owners know what a pain these are when they've rusted into place on the steel spindles. best solution when they've stipped or rusted on is to FIRST buy a replacement from a local VW parts store. tell them it's the castle nut for your spindle... should be the same (mine were). Then obtain some carbide or disc cutoff wheels for your dremmel. proceed to cut the castle nut on one side. it's okay if you get into the threads a bit, although you shouldnt have to go that deep. once you have a good-sized groove going through at least 2/3rds the thickness of the nut, get a chisel and hammer, crack it in half and remove. then use your handy dandy wire-brush and clean the threads real good, apply some anti-seize compound, install new castle nut

[944 Ecology]

No, this is not a castellated nut, but rather a large split nut which is secured by a 6mm allen bolt. It allows much finer adjustment of the bearing than a coarse castellated nut.

gb

[Brando]

droh!