Call out to all those who have had nut nut problems. I have a clicking eminating from the O/S/R Wheel, as far as I can tell. It's a creaky/clicky type sound, occurs at the same point each rotation, doesn't get louder with speed (but does increase with frequency, so it's definitely a rotating part). I still clicks when going very slowly, and if going particularly slowly, I can make out three little 'clicks' one after another that make up the overall 'creak'. It is worse when it's more loaded up (ie on LH bends).

I dropped it into my friendly neighbourhood independent a few weeks ago and we could clearly hear the creaking as he drove it on to the ramps. He took the wheel off and nothing immediately seemed loose (we both had a good look around all the moving parts). The hub nut had not moved. He then put the wheel back on and gave up, as he was busy (it was good enough of him to offer to look at it at all). Lo and behold, the click went away! So we suspected it might have been dirt on the mating surfaces or something else causing a tiny bit of movement.

It's been fine for a few weeks, but now it's started coming back. Given the above description of the symptoms, does anyone have an idea what it might be before I start ordering new hub nuts?

It's a 2004 car, so should have the new style hub nuts, torqued correctly (presumably!). Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Have you swapped the rear wheels over to see if the problem follows the wheel?

If the problem goes away for a few weeks though every time you remove and re-fit the rear wheels though this could mean it's a long time before you eliminate everything. Probably risky too for any length of time as I'd imagine the tyres are directional.

 

Haven't swapped them over, no. Yup the tyres are GY GSD3s, so swapping over wouldn't be great! But I'm sure it wouldn't harm for a few miles. But as you say, I'd have to leave it a few weeks to see if it had worked! Might be a thought if it gets bad enough that it doesn't disappear. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I had a hub nut problem and mines an 06. Symptoms were similar to yours except one hub nut eventually nearly came off.

For the cost, just get two new nuts, grease the splines and fit the new nuts to the correct torque. The nuts cost around

 

Cheers Lower,

Had your nut actually unscrewed then? The peen on mine shows no signs of loosening, so I'm wondering whether the internals have just 'settled' a little loose. Interesting that you had problems on a later car too.

I'm off to Cornwall and back in a couple of weeks. I guess you'd advise fixing before then?!

 

Chris, I would pull the hub and grease the splines and balls first as above.
It may be just dry and with luck the buckets are not yet worn.
You can rotate the buckets 180 degree so the load is on the unused side if you like.

 

Ah cunning. Not had the hubs off before, so I'll have a look at the weekend and report back!

What grease do the bearings/splines need? LM or something more heavy duty?

 

One had never been staked, the other had been staked but just not torqued enough.

The technician recognised the noise as soon as he got in the car and commented that it comes and goes depending on how rusty the splines are and how lubricated they are (eg the noise went in the wet).

I did the hub nuts myself on my previous car and one side was tight, the other not tight enough.

The spines were rusty on the looser side.

Its a very quick and easy job as long as you've got a big enough socket and torque wrench.

 

Blimey, was it done by the same guy at the factory who's in charge of geometry adjusters?

I've got the torque wrench, just not the 36mm(?) socket. Will order the nuts and socket today, hopefully.

Any ideas which type of grease to use?

Thanks guys.

 

Hub Nuts cost me 8 quid from Honda a few weeks back