Rear axle (spindle) nut torque: creak or pop and hub bearing wear

Added 2026-10-26 · Updated 2026-10-26

Symptoms

A pop or creak from the rear; worn rear hubs or bearings if it goes on.

Cause

A reference site and an S2KI how-to say Honda raised the rear spindle nut torque from 181 to 220 lb-ft in a 2001 Service News article; a loose nut lets the inner bearing race move on the hub.

Fix (summary)

Retorque the 36 mm rear nuts to the revised 220 lb-ft (298 N·m) and re-stake them. The S2KI write-up goes a further 60 degrees; that is the community's method, not Honda's. The Honda article itself was not found.

Related build entries

• Retorque the rear axle nuts to the revised 220 lb-ft

Other AP1 problems

• Recall 00V-016: seat belts may not retract with the top down (2000)
• Recall 00V-316: seat belt retractor can deform and lock (2000)
• Recall 04V-257: tail lamp side marker lens made with the wrong dye (2000)
• F20C valve spring retainers can crack after a mechanical over-rev
• 2000-01 plastic rear window clouds, scratches and tears
• AP1 snap oversteer on lift-off

More for this car

• All Honda S2000 (AP1, 2000-2003) fitment answers · AP1 common problems
• Newsletter archive: past issues with every new and corrected entry

Sources

• Honda S2000 Torque Specs: Factory Fastener Values — AP1AP2.com (independent S2000 reference site) (editorial; read 2026-10-26; full page read)
  220 lb-ft, revised up from 181 lb-ft after pop/creak reports.
• Retorquing the Rear Axle Nuts, How-to and Why — S2KI (site article, September 21, 2012) (editorial; read 2026-10-26; full page read)

Summaries are in our own words. Not repair instructions; consult the factory service manual.

Report a correction — spotted an error or have a better source? Email hello@chassisdex.com.