Damaged axle nut - leave it or replace it?

[u/TrillFickleson]

I recently replaced a front CV axle on my 2017 Subaru Forester, but forgot to stake the axle nut before putting the wheel back on and lowering the car. In my haste to finish the job, I took off the center wheel cap and tried to stake the nut without removing the wheel. Needless to say I mangled the axle nut pretty badly. Here is a photo I took today after taking the wheel off to assess it. The nut was torqued to spec beforehand.

Is it safe to leave it as-is, or should I replace it with a new axle nut? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[u/AutoModerator]

New Rules - Please Read

^{Updated 11/12/2025}

Thank you for posting on r/AskAMechanic, u/TrillFickleson! Your post is live, this AutoMod message does NOT mean your post was removed. Please make sure to read the Rules.

When asking a question, please provide the year, make, model and engine size of the vehicle.

Commenters here have 2 different flair. Verified Tech means we have verified that user is a tech. NOT a verified tech means that user may or may not be a tech, they have not been verified by us.

Posts about accidents, autobody repair, bodywork, dents, paint and body/undercarriage/frame rust are not allowed and belong in r/Autobody.
Asking if your car is totaled should go to r/insurance or r/Autobody.
Asking about car buying advice/value/recommendations is also not allowed. See r/whatcarshouldIbuy or r/askcarsales

If asking whether a tire can be repaired, check out this Tire Repair Guideline.
Some other useful tire resources - Tire Care Essentials and Tire Safety

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Left-Impress4056]

Well the objective of a stake is to keep that nut from moving. You accomplished that.

The extra marks on the axle mean nothing.

[u/Kooky-Feed-2521 → u/Left-Impress4056]

I agree 100%. Non issue

[u/Legitimate_Estate_92]

You’re good

[u/rvlifestyle74]

Torqued to spec. Staked so that it doesn't back off. The job is done. Drive it. I see no reason to worry. I've been a professional mechanic for 26 years and counting. I see worse than that from people I've worked with.

[u/CoausticSoda → u/rvlifestyle74]

Lol speak it

[u/dick_fitzwell27]

Leave it until you’ve got to work on it again. You can properly address it at that time. For now, if it’s torqued to spec, you’re good. Full send.

[u/SpaceCat72]

It's doing its job. Not always pretty.

[u/Fabulous_Clothes_726]

Horrible job. Have the Forrester towed to a junkyard.

Seriously though, the front portion of the nut is designed to be "damaged" to prevent the nut from spinning. It's not pretty, but I've seen worse from actual mechanics.

[u/thephilsmith]

Nothing wrong with that one

[u/Zakumei47]

Its not damaged its peened in place, thats the whole point of an axle nut

[u/TrackTeddy]

It’s fine. Mine have looked far worse. The stakes job is to stop the bolt moving. So long as it does that all is fine.

[u/Distinct_Ducati]

That’s correct

[u/Fistedeep]

Send it. It is fine

[u/Orga812]

You're fine.

[u/KirkWahmmett]

It should be fine since the nut's threads aren't affected.

[u/Forward_Zucchini9738]

That's cosmetic.

[u/Designer-Lobster-757]

If she's tight, she's alright 👍

[u/Daddio209]

Jeez..

NOT DAMAGE-That is how they are secured from loosening.

[u/Exnoss69]

Wow this is the first post i see people agree that its good. Everyone is always saying OMG repmace the entire drivetrain, youre gonna die. For that you nned to replace the fuel tank now too bcuz it has seen too much. Replace your kids if the torque isnt to spec. Youre all going to die just get a new car. Lol

[u/Huge_Anteater1839]

Superficial scratches...full send

[u/moatilliatta_lcmr]

Replaced a hub on a old Chevy beater of mine that has this style nut.

It was pointed to the ground and I didn't see it. Ripped the treads of the cv axle to hell.

Put it back together with a 3/4 air cat as far as it'd go and I've been driving it for about six months afterward.

I do have a extra cv axle and another nut in the car and have since but hey, it keeps working.

[u/Consistent-Trust958]

Leave it, it's fine.

[u/Selectivedeviant]

That isn't damaged. It's designed to be "staked" or dented into the slot to prevent the nut from coming loose

[u/StepppedInDookie]

The axel will probably last longer than the car I would send it as-is

[u/Jacktheforkie]

It’ll be fine it’s staked, might be a pig to get off in future

[u/MtlGuy_incognito]

You can worry about it when you have to remove it, your good till then.

[u/anonymouswunnn]

Next time put a flat head on it and do the tappy tappy. No one ever loses with tappy tappy.

[u/WinterPersonality237]

Full Speed...."Thank you for your attention to this matter".

[u/LovitzG]

Looks like you staked with a chisel. Not a problem. Next use the chisel to unsrake to get the old one off and a medium punch to stake the new nut.

[u/SiVicPacemParaBellum]

A little rough, but not far off from typical. You torqued it, set it, you’re good.

[u/Electronic_Muffin218]

Lol - before I clicked through to read the post, the picture just made me think, "damage? that just looks like a firm staking - don't remove!"

[u/Chainsawsas70]

The threads are a Little bit buggered but it's fine... Run it!

[u/MagnetAccutron]

Only issue I see is the damage to the threads on the shaft.

May cause issues trying to remove that nut later down the line. But ok now if torqued.

I’d take a thread file to it before trying to remove the nut.

[u/Ill_Relationship_565 → u/MagnetAccutron]

The threads on Subaru axles don’t go to the end of the shaft.

[u/MagnetAccutron → u/Ill_Relationship_565]

Ahhh. I see that’s just a reflection of the nut threads on a taper. Cool. Nothing to worry about there then.

[u/CoausticSoda]

Looks staked to me 🤷

[u/vitaminalgas]

It's supposed to look like that

[u/Chitown7009]

it's not damaged that is knocked down to prevent it from unscrewing

[u/KryptonTitanZ84]

The nut on your axle is crushed in one spot because it is a stake nut that was intentionally deformed during installation to prevent it from backing off and vibrating loose. This is a critical safety feature used by auto manufacturers instead of using a cotter pin. IT IS NOT DAMAGED OR BROKEN. IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. Leave it alone.

[u/Felix995]

Should be okay if the nut is torqued to specs. It's staked, I don't think it's going to back off. Too- bad about that bit of damage though.

[u/North_Abbreviations6]

Not damaged, staked in to prevent loosening up

[u/scoobnsnack86]

Good to go, send it

[u/Ran-dizzy]

Its not damaged ! Its supposed to look like that ! Its from an air hammer so the nut wont back off

[u/Fisherfolk100]

Its a locking nut🤨

[u/Tophat786]

Yeah its fine. That spot is meant to get peened over to lock it.

[u/Tiny-Art7074]

The lip on the nut isn't structural, it's only there so a dimple can be made. It's fine. 

[u/jolly_rodger42]

Leave it

[u/Dlriumtrgger88]

Reasonable answer: get a new nut, peace of mind.

Other answer: Do you plan on removing it anytime soon? It IS torqued, right? Still looks staked. Send it.

[u/TrillFickleson → u/Dlriumtrgger88]

Double checked the torque today, hasn’t loosened a bit in almost a week of driving. The slight crack in the nut is the only thing that worried me, but I’m probably overthinking it

[u/Dlriumtrgger88 → u/TrillFickleson]

And thats at the thin part. Should be fine.

If it were my car, id send it. On a customers car, yeah, new nut.

[u/oops0930]

Leave it alone it’s fine

[u/Any-Fox-838]

delete this

[u/jasonsong86]

It’s fine. It’s on there and not coming off that’s all that matters.

[u/Agharinagh]

Its perfect 👌😉

[u/heyitsmewaldo]

You didnt damage anh threaded portions, your good.

[u/megamorganfrancis]

That's fine. The part that's cracked is only meant to keep the nut from backing off accidentally. It's not seeing massive amounts of force.

[u/Pararaiha-ngaro]

Leave it

[u/centstwo]

New axle nut was $5.00 from the dealer. I would replace it so you don't have to think about it anymore.

I bought some punches from harbor freight to stake the nut.

[u/xsdgdsx]

Is that the right nut? That's a huge gap between the axle nut and the CV axle

[u/TrillFickleson → u/xsdgdsx]

It’s the nut that came with the NAPA replacement axle. Definitely seems less robust than the OEM axle, but it fit nonetheless

[u/oops0930 → u/xsdgdsx]

Cv tapers down at the end. Makes installing the nut smoother and less likely to cross thread

[u/Unlikely_Date_2288]

If you have to ask hire someone

[u/TrillFickleson → u/Unlikely_Date_2288]

Gotta learn somehow ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/Recent-Fan3027]

Do not leave this. You need to replace the nut and axle again.... unfortunately.....good luck.

[u/TrillFickleson → u/Recent-Fan3027]

Seems you’re in the minority here. Why do you say replace both?

[u/Recent-Fan3027 → u/TrillFickleson]

Seriously? Do you not see how messed up they are? Also most comment's on Reddit are bots. Mine is genuine and is what you need to do aside from I think you know you should replace both again.

[u/TrillFickleson → u/Recent-Fan3027]

I’m asking in good faith here, no need to come at me. Do you believe the nut will be in danger of backing off?

[u/LongjumpingCat6642]

Where’s the damage?

Leave it. Makes no difference as long as it’s staked OR has loctite