Confusion on Torque spec

[Gman73]

I'm confused, replaced my front wheel bearings on my 73 k 20 did the back bearing to spec ends up at about 35 ft-lbs with the backing off, however the consensus on this forum is the fronts should be torqued to about 120 ft-lbs, I have the factor serv manual and the factory overhaul manual and the service manual call for the fronts to be 50 ft-lbs I'm reading it but is this correct? If so I need to do some loosinin lol

 

[PrairieDrifter]

You run it tightish till the hub slows down spinning by hand, you'll feel when it's seated. Then back off a 1/4 turn.

Forget the torque specs...

 

[Bextreme04]

I'm confused, replaced my front wheel bearings on my 73 k 20 did the back bearing to spec ends up at about 35 ft-lbs with the backing off, however the consensus on this forum is the fronts should be torqued to about 120 ft-lbs, I have the factor serv manual and the factory overhaul manual and the service manual call for the fronts to be 50 ft-lbs I'm reading it but is this correct? If so I need to do some loosinin lol

both of those numbers are correct. You have an inner nut, a lock washer, and an outer locknut. Inner nut should be tightened to 35 lb-ft while rotating the hub to seat the bearings. You then back it off about 1/6-1/4 turn until you can get the lockwasher to seat. This should give just a hint of a movement when yanking on the hub and pushing in on it(basically a very, very small clearance to snug). Then you put the outer nut on and torque it to 120ft-lbs. This gives the proper clearance for everything to snug up tight once the bearings heat up from driving it. If you have the inner bearing torqued to 35ft-lbs when cold, you will have a ridiculous amount of resistance on the bearings when they heat up and expand.

 

[Gman73]

right tight and back off for the rear, but the front nut?

 

[Gman73]

I've got the rear correct for sure, it was the front nut i was wondering about and why my service manual say 50ft-lbs for the front nut

 

[PrairieDrifter]

right tight and back off for the rear, but the front nut?

Just snug it up decently, about what you would put into a lugnut. It's a locknut.

 

[Bextreme04]

What do you mean front and rear? I'm assuming you have the factory Dana 44?

Here's an exploded view diagram:
https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c718_dana_44_front_chevy.html

We are talking about items 59,60,and 61

Item 59 is the inner nut(this one has a single pin sticking out from one face of the nut. The pin should point towards you while you are assembling everything)
Item 60 is the lock washer and should have an indent that slides into the groove in the spindle and holes all the way around for the pin on Item 59 to slide into
Item 61 is the outer locknut that keeps everything from moving

Tighten item 59 to 35 ft-lbs while turning the hub.
Back off item 59 1/6-1/4 turn until the pin on Item 59 will fit in a hole on Item 60.
Tighten Item 61 to 120 ft-lbs just like you would a lug nut.

 

[Gman73]

Did all the above thanks