MTFCA Forum

Hello all,

I am having such a silly problem at the moment. I am attempting to remove the front wheels in order to send them out for rebuilding, but the spindle washer is stuck on the passenger side. When I changed bearings on a previous car, they just came right off. The washer on this one seems to have been deformed such that it wiggles a bit side to side but will not slide off. Has anyone experienced this before? I'm worried that wrenching on it harder or trying to cut it off might damage the spindle threads. Anyone have input? Thanks.

Have you tried to unscrew the bearing? It might push off the washer. If that doesn't work, try to run something flat like a screwdriver blade under the washer and pry it outward. Do this from several angles as you do it. If you find the tab is out of the groove but in the threads, try to rotate the washer to the point where the tab is in the groove.
Norm

Sometimes the little tab that goes in the slot in the spindle breaks off and the washer gets stuck on the threads. Grab it with a pair of channel locks and turn it until it releases and can be slid off.

Stephen

Ended up having to cut it off with a Dremel and a really small disk. Somehow about half of the washer was pinched/flattened such that the washer tab was stuck hard into the groove and the washer wouldn't get over the threads. The threads closest to the spindle are somewhat damaged as well. Possible somebody tightened the castle nut way too much on the last bearing job.