Help Need - Front Axle Keeper Washers

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

Thanks to all who have responded so far, I was wondering if Dirk might have them, but the problem was trying to address is finding a modern application for these that might be more readily available to all of us. These are an expendable item which (I have learned should be replaced every time the axle nuts are removed)

I'm working on a longer better write up of this experience which I'll try to post soon.

From the picture below you will see the right and left keepers both of them sheared off. Yes I made these up out of sheet metal. I spent yesterday trying to make replacements out of 13 gauge steel using the lathe and plasma cutter. So far I have not been able to produce a replacement that I will trust.

Total cost so far for all new seals bearings and races/cups is $325 US all the Timken part numbers are still good.

Cheers

I've been searching the web for a dimensional listing which would be a match and while I can find the rear ones I have not found a source for the front. The problem being the diameter of the threads and the key way or tooth size.

In checking out the sources people have e-mailed me I am discovering some interesting things such as one major US sellers of old Ford parts uses the same catalog as one of the Canadian sellers with different headers and footers on the catalog page.

My next step is to check my other trucks to see if I need to be replacing the keepers on them as well and to confirm what sizes my trucks have. Once I've done that I maybe contacting Dirk and asking him to post me a bunch.

Please keep pondering on this while your at it check your own trucks, also think about the logic of why both would fail and why the left side nuts backed themselves off.

Cheers Phil

[Paul Singleton]

Hi Phil, as for the left side nuts coming loose on the wheel bearing the forward rotation of the wheel will tend to loosen the nuts. On the right hand side the rotation would tighten the nuts. That was the reasoning behind the left hand thread wheel nuts on the left side of CMP vehicles.
As for the tang shearing off the washer I have had the same problems when tightening the outside nut. Over tightening the outside nut tends to turn the inside nut slightly and shears off the tang.
I have no idea on where to source the washer. Any medium duty trucks that I have worked on have a flat on the spindle for the washer and not a tang. I will keep a look out on some of the industrial stuff at work for a washer.

Paul

[Bob McNeill]

The washer shown must have been off heaps of times as you only fold the tab over onto one flat each time, if you adjust the brg properly it will take years until it has to be redone, use loctite wickin 290 after final adjustment or threadlock when happy with result.

[gjamo]

Hi Phil,
Just do a search for tab washers on the web. Stacks of manufacturers your side of the swamp.
Graeme

[ozm29c]

Phil,
With modern technology available to you these days, could I suggest that you send your drawing to either a Laser or Water jet cutter and have a new set of washers cut out. Once you pay for the set up cost the actual production cost is very affordable
Cheers
John Wilson