Febi Hub Nut - why?

[Andy 308GTB]

As anyone who has been on this section previously will know, I own a knackered Ford Focus Mk1.
As part of my ongoing rear drum brake disaster, I attempted to remove one of the rear hubs.

I found that it was all held together with a Febi Hub Nut.
These are 4 thin nuts peened together to make one nut.
Why?
What is wrong with a single nut, peened in place?


Fortunately, they are available from EuroCarParts because I've destroyed mine and got myself in all sorts of trouble.

Edited by Andy 308GTB on Sunday 21st October 19:24

[Ynox]

Probably too late, but on a Focus mk1 it's easier to remove the stub axle from behind the wheel rather than undoing the hub nut.

Something like 4/5 13mm bolts if I remember right (was 11 years ago when I did this job!).

[Andy 308GTB]

Ynox said:

Probably too late, but on a Focus mk1 it's easier to remove the stub axle from behind the wheel rather than undoing the hub nut.

Something like 4/5 13mm bolts if I remember right (was 11 years ago when I did this job!).

I was a bit hasty. I should have left it well alone.
There's 2 very thin bolts and 2 slightly thicker bolts that require a 27mm spanner (Without the peened casing...)

[tapkaJohnD]

Isn't this a form of lock nut? The four slices of nut will act like 'double nutting' and lock on the stud/bolt.
The casing just holds them together in store and for installation.
John

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Funnily enough I'm doing the same job tomorrow on our Focus - I never realised it was actually 4 nuts held together by that cage thing?

[Mr2Mike]

Febi might make these as a pattern part, but they are not "Febi nuts". The laminated nut design is supposed to provide self locking and also distributes the clamping load more evenly across the threads.

[GreenV8S]

Mr2Mike said:

The laminated nut design is supposed to provide self locking and also distributes the clamping load more evenly across the threads.

If the locking function works on the same basis as a jam nut, surely the load is being distributed *less* evenly.

[Mr2Mike]

GreenV8S said:

If the locking function works on the same basis as a jam nut, surely the load is being distributed *less* evenly.

AIUI the laminations are slightly concave (like a belleville washer) so the load gets spread between each layer of the stack.

[Andy 308GTB]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Funnily enough I'm doing the same job tomorrow on our Focus - I never realised it was actually 4 nuts held together by that cage thing?

It really helps if you know this. Otherwise you could rip the thing to pieces and end up in all sorts of trouble...
Not that I would be so stupid

[Andy 308GTB]

Mr2Mike said:

GreenV8S said:

If the locking function works on the same basis as a jam nut, surely the load is being distributed *less* evenly.

AIUI the laminations are slightly concave (like a belleville washer) so the load gets spread between each layer of the stack.

The laminations are indeed concave.

The idea must work but I don't understand how 4 nuts bolted down in the same 'orientation' increase the locking.
Locking nuts actually tighten on one another.

[Andy 308GTB]

The replacement hub nut from Euro Car Parts turned up today.
It looks more like what I expect a hub nut to look like: