Rear wheel bearing castlenut cracked when tightening!?

[Benz-76]

Replacing both wheelbearings on my 123 among other things. I have the control arms of the car when replacing these bearings. When tightening the nuts i put alot of torque on it and it turned probably 1 rotation before popping and cracking the nut. Tried again on the other control arm and same thing happened again. New bearings and new crush sleeve... Old nuts since kits didnt come with new ones. Nuts looks okay and i made sure the threads were clean.

Had the nuts locked with the castlenut tool and tightened by turning the hubs. 1 Prong of the tool broke of also.

Could the aftermarket crush sleeve be to hard?

Im sad right now...

[rumb]

hmmm, try tightening the castle nut with breaker bar instead of turning the hub.

Yeah they are tough to get set correctly. buy a few extra crush sleeves.

Are you using a dial indicator to measure backlash?

[Benz-76]

Originally Posted by rumb

hmmm, try tightening the castle nut with breaker bar instead of turning the hub.

Yeah they are tough to get set correctly. buy a few extra crush sleeves.

Are you using a dial indicator to measure backlash?

Thanks will do that next time. Ordered new nuts and a new tool and will try again when they arrive.

Didnt get far enough to have to use the dial indicator. play is still probably 1-2mm.

Thinking about putting the hub assembly up in the press just to get the crush started before tightening to specs with the nuts. Since i dont want to risk cracking the new nuts. I Guess the initial start of crush is hardest?

[Sugar Bear]

I'd try the pre-crushing of the sleeve idea.

Good luck!!!

[gmog220d]

Originally Posted by Benz-76

I Guess the initial start of crush is hardest?

You guessed right. Once it's started it will go much easier.

[rumb]

I think tightening the nut instead of turning the hub applies pressure more directly to the crush sleeve.

[donaldust]

Originally Posted by Benz-76

Replacing both wheelbearings on my 123 among other things. I have the control arms of the car https://epicvin.com/vin-decoder/mercedes-benz when replacing these bearings. When tightening the nuts i put alot of torque on it and it turned probably 1 rotation before popping and cracking the nut. Tried again on the other control arm and same thing happened again. New bearings and new crush sleeve... Old nuts since kits didnt come with new ones. Nuts looks okay and i made sure the threads were clean.

Had the nuts locked with the castlenut tool and tightened by turning the hubs. 1 Prong of the tool broke of also.

Could the aftermarket crush sleeve be to hard?

Im sad right now...

Did you try tightening the castle nut with breaker bar?

[Benz-76]

Still have not put the car back together but i did findout the probable cause, Since i was using old nuts the nuts was deformed where they were previously knocked into the locking slots. I should have ground those indents away but was rushing to much and didnt think of it. Pretty sure the nuts cracked when those indents tried to go over the threads.

Im waiting for my new nuts and tool, i have precrushed the sleeves already so hopefully the nuts wont be under the same stress as I only have to do the final crushing with those. I Put the controll arm in the press hub side down and pressed where the nut would press, Pressed it together untill there was still some play but definiatly more then specs.