Axle will not tighten all the way down?

2012 KIA SEDONA
AUTOMATIC
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SERPENT1977
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I just replaced the wheel hub assembly on my 2012 Kia Sedona. Now the axle will not tighten all the way down. It's as tight as I can get it but there is still play in and out with the axle. I'm wondering if I have to have a washer behind that nut. I do not remember taking one off but I had such a hard time getting the hub assembly off. I may have forgotten.
Aug 31, 2026 at 4:04 PM
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STEVE W.
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You replaced the hub, is it an OEM part? The axle nut should be flanged and doesn't use a washer as shown. It gets torqued to 180 ft lb. I would remove it, then check the threads and the nut, If you reused the axle and the nut it may still have the threads damaged by the locking area. You can usually get a spindle rethreading kit as a loaner tool. You would use it to clean the threads. However if you look at it and there appear to be no threads left under the nut, I would suspect the part itself is defective.
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Aug 31, 2026 at 10:24 PM
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SERPENT1977
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Thank you, I will try rethreading tool. I can't see any damage on spindle or nut, but maybe I just can't see it. I just know I tighten it as much as I can and can still grab axle and pull it back and forth and the nut still moves.
Sep 1, 2026 at 12:54 AM
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STEVE W.
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If you remove the nut and take a picture of the threads from a couple angles and post them we might be able to see if there is an issue.
Sep 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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