[T3] axle nut oddity

["timothy kuehn" <keen_tj@hotmail.com>]

<x-flowed>good day, gents.

developed an odd rumbling in the rear of my car - so jacked it up, did some 
inspecting.  the passenger side wheel was moving all over the place - i 
could rock it about 1/4", with very little effort.  heart sank - figured  
i'd trashed a bearing, or snapped a stub axle (done both before, similar 
symptoms, expecting the worst).
pulled the wheel off to confirm my fears...  and here's what i found, and 
why my brow is still skeptically arched, several rumble-free days later.
the castellated nut was very loose on the stub - could wiggle it by hand.  
but the cotter pin was still holding it in place.  i slipped the pin out , 
gave the nut +/- 5 turns before it snugged, then torqued it down.  slipped a 
fresh pin in place, and away we go.

but how'd the sucker get loose?  something inside the bearing collapsed, 
maybe a spacer or some such just disintegrated?

please advise.

good day to you all.

--timmy
'72 square
redondo, ca

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