humveeclubitaly

WARNING on HMMWV's Spindles coming off.

I was driving my 1992 M1042 (it has 4,800 miles on it) down the road at 58mph when, without any warning at all, my truck suddenly swerved violently from side to side. I managed to get it stopped and over to the shoulder of the road. I got out and looked around the truck, and my rear passenger side wheel was setting about 15 degrees out of plumb, but all of the lug nuts were on and apparently tight. I looked under the truck, and I could see the outer wheel bearing, and hub oil was everywhere. When the tow truck came and lifted the rear of the truck, the wheel fell completely off, with the spindle still attached.

I got the truck back into my shop and and surveyed the damage. The outer geared hub seal was damaged, and the spindle was scored on the inner bearing race. The threads on the spindle were fine.

I found a link to AM General's web site and discovered the problem. The spindle nut retaining washer was defective, and allowed the nut to back off, causing the wheel to completely separate from the geared hub.
All HUMMER Civilian (H1) vehicles use and entirely different method of securing the wheel spindle.

PS: Add the "spindle locking tab" problem to the list of why ex-mil. HMMWVs were never intended to get in the hands of the general public.