Howdy All,

I'm in the middle of installing a new set of South Africa brakes and
renewing my front wheel bearings and seals.

I am currently at the point of installing the first hub on to the spindle. I
am using the same thrust washer that came off that spindle. The thrust
washer has a tab that fits into one of two grooves in the spindle. The
thrust washer is in perfect condition. It is not bent or damaged. I even
have a brand new trust washer and with both the old and new washers I'm
having the following problem:

After I place the outer wheel bearing on the spindle I try to place the
thrust washer on and then the axle nut. The thrust washer, however, will not
go on to the spindle far enough for me to put the axle nut on. This is
because the groove in the spindle (which the tab on the thrust washer fits
into) tapers to a smaller size and does not allow the thrust washer to go on
any further. This is the same thrust washer that I removed from this very
spindle.

What should I do? Do I need to put a socket over the thrust washer and tap
it on with a hammer just far enough for the axle nut to begin to thread onto
the spindle? While it seems that this may work, it just doesn't seem to be
right.

Any and all help is appreciated.

Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce@hotmail.com