Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

C is for CATASTROPHIC!

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    C is for CATASTROPHIC!

    Ok, so the car (88 Mazda 323 SE) has this wobble at 65-70. Now all of my resources say that a high speed wobble is indicative of rear end issues. So I pop my drivers rear wheel off and the spindle nut is loose. Prolly from replacing the bearings a while back when I first got the car. So, I need to tighten this bugger. What was the torque spec? I find this site http://www.autowaresgroup.com/resour...rque_specs.pdf
    and I think "jackpot". It states that rear spindle nut torque is at 152 ft. lbs/206 kg. This seems kinda high but hey, if it's online, it is truth (mistake #1). I break out my trusty torque wrench, crank it up to 152 and start turning. I strip out the spindle nut, but hey, the spindle nut is old and these things happen, besides I have another one. I crank this one down to 140 and think "what is 12 lbs give or take?" (mistake #2). Put the whole thing back together and off to the freeway. I get on, get up to 50, residing behind a slow moving truck and await my chance to go around and pick up to 70. DISASTER STRIKES! A loud sqealing emerges from the left rear of my car and now we have a wobble at 50. Insert string of colorful explicatives and to the side of the freeway we go. I get out and check the hub temp with my hand and low and behold, the temperatures of hell and damnation sear the back of my hand. I u-turn onto the on ramp and begin the limp home. I pull the rear spindle assy and the drum is loose as all get out. As soon as I take it apart I will post pics. Luckily in my garage is two spindle and brake assy from a 91 capri. Let the disk brake conversion begin.

    #2
    lol the temperature of hell and damnation. I cant lie i did laugh when i read that. good thing you have parts in your garage
    91 protege gt. dropzone mx3 springs, mx3 crossmember, ractive front and rear strut braces, rear lower mx3 brace, 4 wheel disc brakes, corksport ss brake and clutch lines,kvr front pads, ractive cai,ram air hood scoop, modified front bumper, shaved ant and rear trunk lock, fubu ant, short shifter, corksport bronzeoil shifter bushings,92 glass sunroof and tail lights, mx3 center console, autometer gauges (volt and oil pressure) cluster needles painted to match, sound system, 17 inch eagle alloy 193 with 205 40 17 rubber. klze is ALIVE BABY!! . http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2394656http://www.toprotege.com/forums/show...hlight=project[url]

    Comment


      #3
      Looking back, I too am laughing. I have done some research and according to my big book of all things ford escort (BG) it says to torqe the same nut down to 130 to 174 ft. lbs. 152 puts me right in the middle. So what the Heck happened? My only idea is that my torque wrench is screwed or the bearings were already shot due to previous looseness?

      Comment


        #4
        probably right, maybe that bearing has seen better days
        91 protege gt. dropzone mx3 springs, mx3 crossmember, ractive front and rear strut braces, rear lower mx3 brace, 4 wheel disc brakes, corksport ss brake and clutch lines,kvr front pads, ractive cai,ram air hood scoop, modified front bumper, shaved ant and rear trunk lock, fubu ant, short shifter, corksport bronzeoil shifter bushings,92 glass sunroof and tail lights, mx3 center console, autometer gauges (volt and oil pressure) cluster needles painted to match, sound system, 17 inch eagle alloy 193 with 205 40 17 rubber. klze is ALIVE BABY!! . http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2394656http://www.toprotege.com/forums/show...hlight=project[url]

        Comment


          #5
          did it sling any grease around? The bearings probably seized, or the bearing race moved. Good thing you didn't have an accident.

          In the long run, you'll be better off with the disk conversion.

          Comment


            #6
            yeah, no grease sling, it kinda converted to carbon due to extreme heat i would assume. bearings on that side were prolly bad, going to disk definately. having a hard time tracking down propper rear brake hoses though, escort gt ones work, barely.

            Comment


              #7
              Did you look at www.rockauto.com ?

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by MyHooker View Post
                Ok, so the car (88 Mazda 323 SE) has this wobble at 65-70. Now all of my resources say that a high speed wobble is indicative of rear end issues. So I pop my drivers rear wheel off and the spindle nut is loose. Prolly from replacing the bearings a while back when I first got the car. So, I need to tighten this bugger. What was the torque spec? I find this site http://www.autowaresgroup.com/resour...rque_specs.pdf
                and I think "jackpot". It states that rear spindle nut torque is at 152 ft. lbs/206 kg. This seems kinda high but hey, if it's online, it is truth (mistake #1). I break out my trusty torque wrench, crank it up to 152 and start turning. I strip out the spindle nut, but hey, the spindle nut is old and these things happen, besides I have another one. I crank this one down to 140 and think "what is 12 lbs give or take?" (mistake #2). Put the whole thing back together and off to the freeway. I get on, get up to 50, residing behind a slow moving truck and await my chance to go around and pick up to 70. DISASTER STRIKES! A loud sqealing emerges from the left rear of my car and now we have a wobble at 50. Insert string of colorful explicatives and to the side of the freeway we go. I get out and check the hub temp with my hand and low and behold, the temperatures of hell and damnation sear the back of my hand. I u-turn onto the on ramp and begin the limp home. I pull the rear spindle assy and the drum is loose as all get out. As soon as I take it apart I will post pics. Luckily in my garage is two spindle and brake assy from a 91 capri. Let the disk brake conversion begin.
                That sucks.. I have had worse though.. I had weak threds on the spindle nut and during the winter time going over a lot of bumps the spindle nut gave out and I lost my whole back wheel and drum.. watched it bounce down the road beside me.. lol..

                You are right about the torque spec it is that high.. All though if it was loose the damage was all ready done most likely to the bearings.. did you repack them when you found it loose??

                Comment


                  #9
                  Of course not! Why the heck would I do a wise and reasonable thing like that? Like I said, looking back I chuckle and chalk it all up to lessons learned. I now am the proud owner of an 88 323 se hatch with all wheel disk brakes with working e-brake. I torqued the new spindle nuts down to 130 ft. lbs and took it for a spin. Seemed like she was dragging a little and didn't get above 60. The hubs were warm (could still touch them) but not cooking off so I think I am in the clear. Anyone else have this experience or something like it?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Did you re-dent the axle nut with a hammer and a scredriver/chisel/punch? I haven't seen a nut, that was properly dented, back off the threads before.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      If the capri disc setup is the same as the 323 gt, then you do NOT want to torque down the axle nut at all. What you want is for the nut to be snug against the bearing washer keeping the assembly from sliding side to side but loose enough to roll the wheel freely. Then you hammer the top sheet of the nut into the spindle. What your doing by torquing the nut in like that on this disc brake setup is causing the nut to squeeze the bearings together causing drag and friction. Not good.
                      Make sure you have enough grease in there too though.
                      Mazda
                      1988 Black 323 GT
                      DOHC 16 VALVE TURBO

                      2013 Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed3

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by FamiliaGT View Post
                        If the capri disc setup is the same as the 323 gt, then you do NOT want to torque down the axle nut at all. What you want is for the nut to be snug against the bearing washer keeping the assembly from sliding side to side but loose enough to roll the wheel freely. Then you hammer the top sheet of the nut into the spindle. What your doing by torquing the nut in like that on this disc brake setup is causing the nut to squeeze the bearings together causing drag and friction. Not good.
                        Make sure you have enough grease in there too though.
                        Do this the drum setup is the same way.
                        12 cbr250r: daily ride
                        01 saab 9-3: daily
                        98 gsxr 1100: for sale
                        93L: money pit/ space waster
                        92GL: low and slow beater
                        90?: the rust free shell
                        89LX: swapping to rust free shell
                        89L: for sale
                        89L: parts
                        87 conquest: dohc 4g64 swap underway
                        76+80 vw dashers: for sale

                        Comment


                          #13
                          ^^ You don't want to torque these nuts to 130, this is for BG sealed bearings. The BF bearings need to be held in place by the nut, not tighten, just enough for them no to move side to side. If you torqued it to 130, expect to change it again...

                          Comment


                            #14
                            suddenly everyone chimes in with a group "what the F*%$ are you doing?" Well, inner and outers it is. Crap.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Well same **** happened to my mom's festiva, a young mechanic at a garage just blasted it with an impact as if it was a sealed modern bearing. 2 days later, the bearing was shot.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X