- Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:12 pm
#42665
There's likely NOT enough length to get nylon insert nuts in there. I know, I tried on one of my Jeeps. The good news is you can spend $6 to buy a 7/16 metal rod, cut it to the needed longer length and then put your own threads on it. Putting in a whole new axle is trivially simple. Just remove the old one by popping off the pushnuts and sliding it out. It's that simple.
Another alternative is a threaded collar. I picked up some from McMaster-Carr to see how they'd work out, but haven't installed them yet. They're damned pricey though, a lot more than a fresh axle and your time with a thread cutting die.
Yet another alternative is to drill a hole through the existing shaft and put a cotter pin or other retaining clip through the hole. HF sells a V-shaped drill press guide that makes it very easy to get the hole perfectly centered. Or if you like, thread the end and then drill a hole through BOTH the nut and the shaft. This would guarantee the hole would align with the nut, as it's nigh on impossible to do it otherwise. Or use a slotted (aka castellated) nut as they're designed for use with a cotter pin.
- By katty81
