[Mrjapedo]

Alright so my focus has been giving me some issues. I replaced my rear brakes a few weeks ago, drums pads and wheel cylinders. Everything was fine, until yesterday. I was driving into work and it felt like my rear end was swaying a little. When I got out of work I checked my tires and the left side was fine. But when I pushed on my right tire I noticed a little play in the drum. It only moves a fraction of an inch when I push at 12 o clock. I haven't had the time yet to remove the tire and make sure the spindle nut was tight. If the nut is tight is there anything else that would cause this. Also, I noticed my front left axle was leaking tranny fluid. Anyone have any advice to replacing the axle and axle seal?

 

[FocusKnot]

Welcome to FF.

It does sound like the spindle nut is loose, but why would it be loose? Did you remove it to do the brake job?

 

[Mrjapedo]

I'm no mechanic so I may have got the terms wrong. Its the nut that holds the drum on. I thought it was the spindle nut but could be the hub nut?

 

[FocusKnot]

When doing a drum brake job on the Focus, the drum and spindle come off as an assembly by removing the 4 bolts on the backside of the brake plate.

If you removed the spindle nut, it has to be torqued at 175 ft-lbs IIRC.

 

[Mrjapedo]

I think we have a little misunderstanding. I didn't replace the spindle. I replaced the drum, shoes, and cylinder. Like I said before my terminology could be off so I'm sorry for any confusion. I just googled it and I think the nut in taking about is called the retaining nut.

 

[FocusKnot]

If you replaced the drum, check the torque on that nut.

Spec from book is 235 NM = 173.3 ft-lbs

 

[Mrjapedo]

Yeah I definitely torqued it to that. Could it be possible for that nut to loosen due to driving?

 

[FocusKnot]

Very rare that it would loosen when driving if properly torqued. When it is torqued, spin the drum to help align the bearing as it settles into place.