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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / July 2009Hub nut on Ford Contour
I recently bought a 2000 Contour SVT. As I was test driving it, there was a squeak from the front left that was obviously related to the wheel rotation. The seller said that he had recently done some work to that front bearing, and that the hub nut needed to be retightened, which he did in his garage. He said that hub nuts are only made to be tightened so many times, and then need to be replaced. Well, the squeak has returned. I can retighten the nut, but I am wondering if I need to replace it. Any other thoughts (besides "take it to a mechanic and have it checked out *before* buying")? Thanks, Craig > I recently bought a 2000 Contour SVT. As I was test driving it, there was a > squeak from the front left that was obviously related to the wheel rotation. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > if I need to replace it. Any other thoughts (besides "take it to a mechanic > and have it checked out *before* buying")? So what do you like to hear, "Take it to a mechanic after buying"? The mechanic is going to be in a lot better position to tell you what is wrong than anybody who is only relying on your description of the problem. It seems doubtful that it has anything to do with the nut. Most likely cause would be something related to the brakes. Does the squeak go away when you apply the brakes? If you jack the front left wheel off the ground and rotate the wheel can you hear the squeak? -jim > Thanks, > Craig > I recently bought a 2000 Contour SVT. As I was test driving it, there > was a squeak from the front left that was obviously related to the wheel [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanks, > Craig Well I could say you got what you paid for... Anyway. there is NOTHING that that hub nut holds that will cause a squeak. It simply holds the axle into the hub assembly. It gets tightened and due to it's design it shouldn't "loosen up" I would say that your troubles are NOT the hub but probably brake related.  SignatureSteve W. > Anyway. there is NOTHING that that hub nut holds that will cause a > squeak. It simply holds the axle into the hub assembly. It gets [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > -- > Steve W. Come on guys! Wheel bearings "will" squeak!!! >> Anyway. there is NOTHING that that hub nut holds that will cause a >> squeak. It simply holds the axle into the hub assembly. It gets [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Come on guys! Wheel bearings "will" squeak!!! Not unless they are running DRY and are ready to fail. Even then they generally don't squeak, they rumble and grind but no squealing. Also this is an integral hub/bearing unit. Sealed and non adjustable. The nut has NO effect on the bearing. It simply keeps the drive axle in position and in the event of bearing/hub failure it holds the assembly together somewhat. > Not unless they are running DRY and are ready to fail. Even then they > generally don't squeak, they rumble and grind but no squealing. Also > this is an integral hub/bearing unit. Sealed and non adjustable. The nut > has NO effect on the bearing. It simply keeps the drive axle in position > and in the event of bearing/hub failure it holds the assembly together > somewhat. The thing is, the axle nut has a specified torque that would be hard to gauge accurately without the use of a torque wrench. Failure to properly torque the nut would allow the hub end of the CV axle to work back and forth in the splines for the hub, wearing both out. It is very possible that the squeak is a result of the splines getting trashed when someone didn't put things back together correctly, and the repair may very well require replacement of the hub, axle, bearing and axle nut. Tightening the nut beyond the specified torque might work for a short time, but the root problem is still there and will come back..... Contour SVT was the 'hot' version of the contour if memory serves me right. Someone probably drove it hard and put it away wet, and now this new owner gets to fix the messes of incompetent past work. Chris > > Anyway. there is NOTHING that that hub nut holds that will cause a > > squeak. It simply holds the axle into the hub assembly. It gets [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Come on guys! Wheel bearings "will" squeak!!! If he won the lottery that would solve his problem also. I have never won the lottery or seen a loose wheel nut cause a squeak, so I'm guessing here, but I think the lottery has a slightly better odds than tightening his wheel nut. -jim > Come on guys! Wheel bearings "will" squeak!!! They sure do...what you failed to note is that they will squeak shortly before having a catastrophic failure. Chris Thanks to all who replied. The noise does not go away when applying brakes. I checked the torque of the nut to 150 ft-lb (specification is 200 ft-lb, but my wrench doesn't go that high). There did not seem to be any motion of the nut at that torque. But when we drove it this evening, there was no squeak. I have an appointment to take it to an independent mechanic who has done good work for us in the past, so hopefully he can check it out and determine if there is anything to be fixed. Craig >> Come on guys! Wheel bearings "will" squeak!!! > > They sure do...what you failed to note is that they will squeak > shortly before having a catastrophic failure. > > Chris > Thanks to all who replied. The noise does not go away when applying brakes. > I checked the torque of the nut to 150 ft-lb (specification is 200 ft-lb, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > > Chris I know some ford axle nuts CAN'T be reused. They must be replaced each time. Not sure if the Contour is one of those vehicles though. > I know some ford axle nuts CAN'T be reused. They must be replaced each > time. Not sure if the Contour is one of those vehicles though. Technically speaking any axle nut that gets torqued and then staked in position should not be re-used. Typically when you loosen those nuts it means you are replacing an axle, and the new axle should (emphasis on should) come with a new axle nut. But I think all of us have done it at some time. The shaft retaining nuts in my G5M transaxle are a prime example. I re-used both of them and so far nothing has loosened up/broken and I've put about 10,000 miles on it...... Chris |
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