Anyone know anything about Stemco Pro-Torq axle nuts?

I also had the problem you are having and the hub must be thrusting into the nut, is it on a front axle of a spread axle trailer or something that could get a lot of side load at times?

 

We used them and would on occasion have a nut wear like yours. We never had any issues just put on a new one. It is a great product and simplifies a procedure that some find daunting

 

The other problem we have had is that the bearings look good but some sort of stress has distorted the bearing cage enough to allow the bearing to thrust under load and jump around. Everything looks good but the tolerances just aren't there once things warm up and it's really hard to figure out why, in this instance just replace bearing and nut. The only way it could have a wear ring is its spinning on the spindle so that's no good either. My vote is new bearing and nut for peace of mind.

 

I agree, just replace the bearing/races and nut. Bearings aren't expensive and certainly cheaper than downtime.

 

The one's I recall seeing like that had visible wear on the spindle. I do not know about the hardening program but Stemco was really good to work with at an independent shop.
I am sure someone will correct me with info from a manual but I thought that .001-.006 on end play was steer axles. The problems I had with drive and trailer axles was seal failures due to loose bearing adjustment. Some people have problems backing nuts off the recommended amounts. We went to about 200 ftlb while turning the wheel in both directions. Back off to free and tighten to 25 ftlb, with a dial torque wrench, turning the wheel in both directions. Always loosen if needed to install the lock, stemco single nut or double nut with a lock ring, then check for no play.
If any of you spent any time with a dial indicator on wheel bearing adjustment you know that tightening a jam nut removes bearing clearance. Point being if you are tightening a single nut the same as you always tightened a double nut set up the bearings are not as tight.
I prefer oil over grease unless the unit is parked for extended periods of time. If that dolly is pounding the road for extended periods of time with slightly loose bearings maybe that is pounding out the bearings and nuts?
I was taught that tapered roller bearings should have preload. The recommendation for adjusting steer axle bearings to have end play was a bandaid in my opinion. Weights went up and physical bearing size went down.
I run trailer and drive axles a little tighter and steers a little loser then I used to.

 

I've always run a touch of preload

 

I agree and like your answer a lot better than the tank manufacturer that answered my question on bearing adjustment. We like them tighter than looser. Well exactly how tight is tighter than looser? I will have to check with our spindle and hub supplier and get back with you. I am still waiting to here from Balzer MFG about 10 years later. Got it worked out by now don't ya know.

 

I always try to get it right at one thou and the pro torq nuts really help with that.