Where to get a 70s Eldo drive axel (spindle) nut

[Steve Preston #16375]

So I managed to strip (dont ask) the slotted drive axle nut for my 76 Eldo when doing ball joints & cv joints this weekend. No parts stores, including Carquest and Napa, carry them or can get them. Maybe a dealership might but not on a Sunday. I contacted Ted in Olympia and hes sending me a couple but my question is, would a dealership have them? If not, where would one go to get new ones?

Thanks, Steve

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Steve,

The best place I have found to get things like that is at Engineering Shops that specialise in fastenings.   There has to be one in your area, as even in a small State like Tasmania, we have three such places in Hobart, and a couple up the North of the State.

You might have to purchase a nut for the correct size thread, and then machine it down on a lathe to size regards length, then with a hack saw and file, cut the castellations in the top for the cotter pin.

The only other way is to see if a Wrecking Yard will let you pull one off a wrecked FWD Eldo.

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[Steve Preston #16375]

I tried a bone yard and found one but broke 2of my 1/2 breaker bars (1 was a Craftsman) trying to remove the nut. Anyway, I found a place that has them for about $21.00 plus shipping. The place is: Golby GMC. They sent me this in an e-mail.

SKU: 6 nut, frt hub  20.40, to order please call our parts order line @800-USA1-GMC.

Best to double check that its actually the spindle nut. Im going to call them this week when I get a chance. Heres their website:  http://www.golbymotorcorp.com/about_us.html TARGET=_blank>http://www.golbymotorcorp.com/about_us.html

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Steve,

For that price, I would want them gold plated, and diamond encrusted.   Plus, they want you to pay postage on top of that.

If I were you, I would do as I mentioned in the first place.   Nuts arent that dear to buy.

Bruce,
The Nutty Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[Steve Preston #16375]

Trust me Bruce, Ive checked every fastener supplier, automotive supplier & motorhome service company here in Vegas and on the internet. In my opinion, $25.00 ea. or so isnt bad considering what Ive paid for the front end rebuild parts. Ive spent about $800.00 for ball joints, cv axles, upper & lower a-arm bushings, tie rod ends & sleeves & an idler arm. Ive still got another $600.00 or so to go on a pitman arm & new (AGR #262317) steering gear box,1 16/13:1 variable ratio & AGR steering pump #805324. So an extra $50.00 for the nuts is a drop in the bucket.

AND I just dropped $200.00 for the special whacky OTC #OTC-J-22517-C torsion bar tool so I can remove the lower a-arms to change the bushings. Ill be pulling Eldo torsion bars & lower a-arms at my local bone yards now to recoup my costs. I plan on grabbing a few, rebuilding them and seeing if I can make a couple of bucks selling them with new ball joints & bushings installed. I may even take a deposit and send the tosion bar tool along with the rebuilt arms as a loner tool. Well see what happens in teh next few months.

Anyway, Thanks to Ted in Washington, I received 2 used spindle nuts today and got Eldo back on the road. Ill be sending him a nice thank you note and some $$ soon to cover the $15.00 next day postage he paid plus his time to send them and the cost of the nuts.

Ah the things we do for our Cadillacs..............

[denise 20352]

    I might be tempted to borrow the tool and then start making them, at that price!

[Mike #19861]

 He has a stock of them. Good guy to deal with.

http://www.classiccaddy.ca/index2.html TARGET=_blank>http://www.classiccaddy.ca/index2.html

 Mike

[Lars Kneller 8246]

I made one of those tools myself.  If anyone in the future has a need for one, I can give you the details.

[George UK]

Classic Caddy in Ontario Mentioned above is brilliant. He manufactures parts.
Some of the parts I have had from him and delivered to the UK are very rare.
He even does the rubber bellows located in the washer unit of the 59 Cad.
As a bonus he is also good for advice.

[Mike #19861]

 Yes, Joe is a great guy. I was over to his establishment just before Christmas for a visit, and spent almost the entire day over there just shooting the bull.

 He has a huge inventory of parts stored inside his warehouse, and he is priced right.

 Mike