Ford hub nut socket

[Frank S]

I'm not at home where most of my specialty tools are but I found that I had a hub seal going bad and needed changing.
How I found it was I suddenly started losing brake fluid. I had to add a full pint in 200 miles,so upon inspecting I noticed wet on the rt rear when I pulled the drum to change the wheel cylinder and shoes the shoes were way too oily to have been caused from a pint of brake fluid alone and had the distinctive smell of rear end oil.
I pulled the axle only to find I needed one of my special sockets to remove the nut
So I rummaged through some scrap and found a length of 2" pipe Which was just about the right OD to make the socket from all was needed was to grind 4 flats 90° to each other then weld 4 3/16" square pins to fit the notches in the nut.
Digging in my tool box or road tools I decide to sacrifice one of my screw drivers.
this is what I came up with for an in the field made tool.

[ragsflh]

a good tool

[Frank S]

Its one of those tools one would not normally carry around with them. I already had 2 at home one store bought and one I made some years ago.
Hub seals rarely go bad but when they do attention must be paid. THis one had only just started to let go and part of the cause may have been the spray of brake fluid from the blown wheel cylinder. At any rate the only way to remove the spindle nut without destroying it that I have found is with one of these sockets and for sure it is the only way the nut can be reinstalled.
Since I always have a welder with me and other tools, in my universe at least there is usually a piece of scrap something or a tool to be sacrificed to get me out of a jam.

[DIYer]

Thanks Frank S! We've added your Hub Nut Socket to our Automotive category,
as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Hub Nut Socket by Frank S

tags: hub, specialty socket