Help Need - Front Axle Keeper Washers

[Bob Carriere]

Yep... confirmed.... the are the same and totally different.....

It seems that the C60 and C15a have the same size nuts...... 2 inches across as per Phil's diagram...... how ever.... the C15a castled nut is almost one inch thick...... has no keyway cut in the axle shaft for the washer slot and therefore the washer is smooth inside out and measures 1 13/32 ID and 2 1/4 OD.....

On the C60 the nut is the same size but only half inch thick but two are installed and they all seem to have two fairly thin sheet metal washer that do fit into the Keyway cut on the C60 axle.......

So the brake hub on a C15a is held fast by a cotter pin and the nut is pushing on a solid 1/8 thick plain washer.. on the C60 it is one nut thigthened over the slotted washer over the first nut..... no cotter pin....

In all 3 instances the washer seems to be the large 2 1/2 size and the washers seem a bit smashed up......

I only had a quick look in the field using the headlights of the truck.... and happened to look at axles with the cast hub cap already removed.... we have others to pick from....

For the record the MB C2 is not of much help..... in the parts listings it shows two washers... one against the brake drum...followed by the first nut...followed by the second washer followed by the second nut..... in the examples I saw tonight it seems that both washers were installed between the two nuts......

Curious to understand what could have caused the rotation of the washer with sufficient torque to shear off the tab on the washer..... also how many washers were installed on your axle... one or two and in what sequence....

Question for the better informed....... any idea if the one nut fixing was early models and later cab 13 got improved two nut/washer arrangement..... usually referred to in the manual as .... after job number #####


Time permitting we will pop a few more cast hub caps from assorted axles to see if there is a pattern.......

Boob

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Phil

Just finished reading the MVMVC newsletter....... those washers are "keepers"

....by this I mean that the two washers of thin sheet metal are installed between the inner and outer nut and being oversize to the nut ... they are beaten back over the nut flats.... one over the inside nut ...one beaten over on the outsided nut ....thereby holding the nuts from turning.... as long as the inside tab in the keyway is not broken...... I would assume that these washers are almost intended for "one use only" .......

As per Grant's suggestions I wonder if they are available from a commercial truckers part supplier...... or..... you may have to fabricate some....or ....see if Dirk has a stash somewhere..... or drill the axle end and use the C15a nut and cotter pin arrangement.....or weld the nut on the axle end...ouch!!!

Will nonetheless see what we have that can be salvaged or at least find a good one that we can clean and ask around.....before sendind it to you.

Boob

[Grant Bowker]

I didn't have any luck last night at Malmberg. The guy on the counter was playing the "I'm only the night guy" game. With that attitude, he'll be lucky to stay as a counter guy, more likely he'll progress to floor sweeper (hopefully one way, out the door). I'll try again today when the day staff are in, maybe at the driveline branch instead of general service.

I went back to Malmberg this morning. The day shift was much more willing to help. Once he'd been through his catalogs he went out back to do something. I'm not sure if it was to rest his brain, but more likely to consult others and check if they had any ideas about what he'd missed. The consensus was that what we're looking for falls between the light duty car/pickup/trailer market and the heavy truck market and that the truck driveline aftermarket isn't making these washers easy to find anymore. They suggested trying a GM dealer in case the part was still cataloged. I had tried an online search this morning, but may try a dealer to see if they are willing or able to find something the online missed. Do you read the C60 parts list as giving a number of 1810181 (replaced by 1811151)? Is there by any chance a part number stamped or etched in the old washer that could be cross referenced? (Sometimes on the edge to keep the rubbing faces smooth.)

I have asked some of the AMEs here in the hangar if they have ideas where to find such specialized washers and am waiting for their answer.

Next point of trial will be General Bearing Supply, there are some staff there who are willing to take on a challenge and don't like to be beaten. They were able to find a few NOS 928 bearings in the UK, but a few turned up locally much cheaper. Perhaps they'll be interested in this challenge too.

Another way around it might be to find some of the bearing adjustment lock washers that fit a keyed shaft and have multiple external tabs, one is bent inward against the adjusting nut and another outward against the lock nut. This only applies if there is enough space, I haven't seen or tried it. This style lock washer was used on the M135.