brake drums coming loose

[dirtydeedss]

My 68' bugs rear drums keep coming loose... what might cause this, just a recent thing, i tourque em dow tight and the nut keeps backing off.

[Bruce]

What method are you using?  How tight is tight?

[dirtydeedss]

tries the impact as itght as it will go and then put a 1" drive breaker bar and jumping on it.

[70's Looker]

aint there a big ass cotter pin thats to help stop that?

[dirtydeedss]

yeah but the nut backs off till it hits the cotter pin, i have sheared one cotter pin already

[BUSDADDY]

How do the splines in the drum look? any play?

[70's Looker]

wow unique, new drums? used drums perhaps they dont spin true, or else you like doing high speeds in reverse

[dirtydeedss]

they are not new, been running them since last year, ill check to see if there is play next time they come loose, shouldnt be too long

[Bruce]

... then put a 1" drive breaker bar and jumping on it.

We need to know how far from the axle you are pushing on the bar (feet) and how much static weight (lbs) you are applying.

[dirtydeedss]

lol i tightened them tighter than i do on my other cars and have no problem on the other vw's.

[silas]

... then put a 1" drive breaker bar and jumping on it.

We need to know how far from the axle you are pushing on the bar (feet) and how much static weight (lbs) you are applying.

that's right.

for instance....2ft long breaker bar x 150lbs standing on the end of it = 300ft/lbs torque

hey deeds.....are you experiencing trouble with both left rear and right rear drums?

i cant help but think it's got something to do with the excessive negative camber you have in the back. how are the bearings? splines on the drum? splines on the axle shaft? threads on the axle shaft? threads on the castle nut?

[dirtydeedss]

all the threads are good, drivers side backed off once and the pass side i re tighten it every few days.  the bar is 2 feet long and im 165 lbs. it was tight.  I also read something about this on samba, i think i may need some new drums.

[piercedvw]

Bigger cotterpins. 

[Chris]

new or used axle nuts? are you sure that the drums are actually seating properly? Maybe you need a spacer?

[dirtydeedss]

yeah they are seating properly, they have been good for almost a year up untill about a week ago

[Bruce]

.  the bar is 2 feet long and im 165 lbs. it was tight. 

That is minimal.  I use a 5' pipe.  With good threads, you should be able to give it 400+ ftlbs.