Poor man's rethread die?

I mangled the end of a CV axle and need to chase the threads. Its for a subaru so its M22 x 1.5. I'm using a thread file currently but would like to use something better / easier. I've heard you can cut a slot in a nut and use it as a die - is this true?

Three corner file, clean the threads with it first then use it to slot a nut. Patience and good eyesight are your friends here.

I have done it with varying degrees of success. I would think that the cv shaft is going to trump the nut it terms of hardness, which is really what this boils down to.

True on hardness. If it is just the first thread or two grind or file them off back to clean useable threads.

TRoglodyte wrote: True on hardness. If it is just the first thread or two grind or file them off back to clean useable threads.

Ditto. Unless it's the threads that the nut resides on when it's torqued down, grind the damaged part away and save yourself the trouble of rethreading. Of course, if you managed to damage the threads where the nut is at when torqued, I've got to wonder what the heck happened that didn't otherwise compromise the axle.

Bryce

Another option, if the threads are long enough- grind the end of the shaft off to shorten it until you are past the mangled threads, then just dress the end of the threads. If you beat the hell out of the shaft taking it out of the hub, you may have mushroomed the end of it, and even with the threads looking chased, the diameter may be too large now.

Edit...I guess I could have just voted up the post above this one.

mikeatrpi wrote: I've heard you can cut a slot in a nut and use it as a die - is this true?

It can work, and sometimes does. The nut must be harder than the bolt, and the threads can only be mildly mangled. Otherwise, it tears the nut threads up, which further tears the bolt threads up.

You can likely buy a single thread die for 5-10 bucks.

"You can likely buy a single thread die for 5-10 bucks."

Not in that size you won't.

First on google was $15

http://drillsandcutters.com/22x152odcarbonsteelrounddie.aspx?gclid=CLKDqaCbmrsCFW9nOgodJ2MA4g

And ebay has buy it now with free shipping and no tax for under $10

I will almost bet anything the nut trick will not work. I have modified CV joints on a lathe to use for something else. They are bitch to cut even with a lathe.

I've done that before but only in softer materials, last one was a cross threaded EGR tube on a Isuzu 2.6 intake, used an old EGR tube nut with three slots to clean up the threads. I'm gonna say it probably won't work on a CV axle tip.

FWIW, the tip of a CV axle generally is nowhere near as hard as the race itself, you'll typically see blue black etc around the ball slots and on the splines which are the result of the heat treating process but not on the threads themselves.

Streetwiseguy wrote: If you beat the hell out of the shaft taking it out of the hub

Yeah, something like that. Some of the threads got damaged during removal. Now I'm looking to see if I can get the nut back on. If I can't get this to work, I'll probably just buy a new axle. I've had mixed success with the thread file. Thanks for the tips... at this point its worth a shot!

You've got a crappy thread file or aren't using it properly if you don't think they're awesome for that sort of thing.

I have used a thread chasing "wrench" before with some success, but not in this application.

Angloamericantools.com sells a nice universal bolt restorer. Check it out, it's $60ish but it looks capable of adjusting to different sizes.

How much is another axle?

OK, this mission was successful. I spent probably an hour carefully teaching myself how to use a thread file until the old nut (with 6 grooves filed in) would thread by hand. The car is back together now. I put a little loctite on the axle nut as extra insurance!