Patent ID: 8016531

Claim:
An axle spindle nut assembly securing a wheel end assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle on an axle spindle of an axle, said axle spindle having an outboard end formed with a keyway and threads, said wheel end assembly including an outboard bearing and an inboard bearing immovably mounted on the axle spindle for rotatably mounting a wheel hub on said axle spindle, said axle spindle nut assembly comprising: a nut formed with threads for threadably engaging said axle spindle threads, said nut capable of being tightened to a selected torque level against said outboard bearing, and having an outboard surface formed with a plurality of features, said features including a recess with radially inwardly extending teeth, said recess communicating with a pair of spaced-apart slots and the recess being formed with relief areas free of said teeth adjacent to each one of said pair of slots; a washer disposed outboard of said nut on said axle spindle, said washer being formed with a tab for engaging said keyway of the axle spindle to prevent rotation of the washer about said axle spindle, said washer further being formed with a plurality of mating features for mechanically engaging said radially inwardly extending teeth of said nut, said mating features including radially outwardly extending teeth formed on an outer periphery of the washer whereby substantial rotation of said nut is prevented, and a selected one of said washer and said nut being formed with at least one generally circumferentially-extending nub; and a pair of fasteners for securing said washer to said nut by insertion of said fasteners into respective ones of said slots, whereby said nub aids contact by the fasteners with the washer and the nut so that said washer is secured to said nut and is removable by removal of said fasteners and application of inboard pressure against the washer at a selected one of said slot relief areas of the nut.