I just changed my pads and rotors on my 79 and I'm a little puzzled by what I found... The nuts were barely finger tight held on by a 12 point? lock washer and cotter pin on each side. Is this normal?? It seems like it would fly off! If i tighten the nut too much it will make the wheel super stiff to turn so I left them a tad loose. I'm afraid that my wheel will fly off on the highway because it is pretty much held on by a cotter pin.

 

Download or follow the FSM for how to tighten hubs with bearings. In
general you tighten them until the wheel just starts to drag and then
back off slightly and put your castle nut and cotter pin in. If you over
tighten them you will cook your bearings.

You did put new bearings and races in right? Thought so

 

Keep in mind there's a lot more force turning the wheel while driving than what you can do with your hands, so they do need to be tight or else you will get a wobbly wheel. That's when things start to go bad.

 

I did what the FSM stated. I was just curious if I needed lock tight or anything for further measures of safety. Having your wheel fall off sounds pretty rough...

Yes, new bearings and seals.

 

yep its normal, every car with non sealed wheel bearings is like this.... and if you think about it one side is trying to tighten itself... and some cars, like the 323 has a left hand thread nut so both sides are trying to tighten themselves.

 

Yeah and if one side is trying to tighten itself... the other side is trying to UNtighten itself.

I figured it had to be normal because I've put 8,000 miles on this car driving the way it was and hadn't had a wheel fly off.

Thanks for the help

 

If you're worried, check them again. Occasionally when installing the races, they don't get full seated. After the car is driven for a while, the races can seat, leaving the bearing a tad bit loose.

 

for the wheel to come off, that nut has to come off first. the cotter pin keeps that nut from turning.