2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - Spindle And Axle Nuts

What is a Spindle or Axle Nut?

A spindle or axle nut secures your hub to your spindle or axle. Some spindle nuts are also secured with a cotter pin or axle nut retainer once they are tightened to specification to keep them from becoming loose while driving, while others are made to be used without a retainer. Cotter pins and nut retainers are often necessary for spindle applications because the nut is not intended to be extremely tight. Over-tightening the spindle nut can affect the operation of the wheel bearing, and if there is too much or too little preload, this can cause accelerated wear, binding, and premature failure. Be sure to check your service manual to determine the appropriate installation procedure and torque specifications for your application. If an axle nut or spindle nut becomes loose or falls off, the hub or wheel bearings can move more than they should, causing a wobbling effect at the wheel end. This can also damage the bearings, races, or spindle if not addressed. An issue with the bearings may also produce noise, including a light but constant clicking or low-pitched grinding. This is also similar to the symptoms of a failing wheel bearing, and you can learn more about that topic in our How-To Hub. If you're servicing your wheel bearings or hub assembly and have lost or damaged your axle nut, O'Reilly Auto Parts has replacement spindle nut options. We also carry new wheel bearings, wheel seals, hub assemblies, and axle nut socket sets in our Loaner Tool program for a complete bearing and wheel end repair.