Your opinion on nylock nuts

Well,

I have been tinkering with my rear suspension trying to locate a squeak and have removed and reused some nylock nuts (top of rear shock, leaf pack bolts, etc). My question is should I purchase new nuts and torque them down to spec or is it ok to reuse them. If it's not ok, where do you suggest purchasing them?

Second question is what should the leaf pack bolts be torqued to, Ironman leafs didn't come with any sort of instructions.

 

Which bolts are you referring to when using the nylock nuts?

Which bolts are you referring to that you need torque specs?

Centerpin bolts?
Front & rear hanger/shackle bolts?
Ubolts?

I've always re-used nylock nuts. It depends on the situation. I've had nylock nuts on my Jeep's rear suspension that were fine (removed/re-used more than once). I've had the same nylock nuts on the front suspension at the shackles of the same jeep and they came loose multiple times - so I had to 'double nut'. It was more about the 'flexing' & pressure of the shackle that worked them loose - and not about the failure of the nuts themselves.

 

You're supposed to replace nylock nuts every time. They may stay on though even if you reuse them. Crazier things have happened.

Any industrial supplier or auto parts place should have them.

 

On aircraft, the typical practice is if the nut can not be run down by hand it is acceptable for reuse.

However, there are some instances where it is called out to replace the nut regardless. Other times, the nut "rundown torque" is measured to meet a minimum value.

Myself, I doubt you will have any issue if the nut requires effort to spin to install.

Most Nyloc nuts become worn from using higher speed power tools like impacts and quality air ratchets.

PK

 

I certainly agree with this. Reused Nyloc nut many times without any problems; but there may be situations that, for safety regulations, that new one should be used each time. A high speed air gun, does tend to heat them up; and yes it probably takes something out of them. oldracer

 

Thanks for the information thus far.