Axle nut help!!

[cmor]

Hey guys. I guess this is my first post here, but I've been lurking for a while. I'll get to intros later.

I need some help. I usually let a garage take care of my wife's Vibe, but when they wanted to charge $1200 to replace both hub assemblies, I drew the line.
Anyway, (removed) was someone thinking when they did this?



It looks like they purposely put an indent in the axle nut, to hinder removal.
Any suggestions as to what to do with this?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

[star_deceiver]

That dent was done at the factory, it's stock procedure on all CV driveaxles. It prevents that nut form ever coming loose on its own and will need to be replaced with a new one when you do this job.

Put a small punch in the keyway, under the dent and hammer it out.

[cmor]

Thanks. I assume I have to get a new one at a dealer, since all the parts stores around here look at me like an alien for asking about it.

[star_deceiver]

The Toyota axle nuts seem to go for around $5 online. Dealer should have no trouble getting them.

[thebarber]

Star is right, bang it out.

They're cheap at Toyota, not sure about GM. I had to take mine off/put a new one on my 1zz vibe when I swapped in a 6spd. No need to indent the new one, btw

[bluneon]

make sure you punch out the pinch far enough to clear the axle threads. otherwise you'll maul the threads and will end up replacing the axle assembly.