Help! Checked rear break shoes for a friend, now flat washer on axel jammed

[FlyB0y]

Ok, I took the break drum off to check the pads, put it back on, and tightened the axle nut. About 30 - 40 mins later my friend calls me up and says something is wrong, I come to look and some-how the flat washer that sits on top of the outer bearing has rotated so that the finger is out of the key-way about 90 DEG and stuck hard. First off, I am at a loss as to how this could have happened, I was sure that the drum was seated all the way before I tightened the nut, and now I wana know if anyone thinks the bearings have any possiblity of having survived. It got hot enough to liquify the grease, and was driven about 10 - 15 miles. I tried to see if I could tighten the nut enough to force that washer to spin and line-up, no dice, and it seems that it might have started to strip the axle/axle nut. How is the best way to go about getting this off?

[Jerry DeMoss]

I would try a high torque air impact gun.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

It happens to my White Wagon, about six month ago... The rear axle did wear enough to make the ball bearin` too loose to try to continue using it, so I changed the Whole complete rear part... (My subie is only FWD) ...Maybe your`s didn`t get that wear, so try with a Penetrating oil and a high torque air impact gun, as DeMoss said.

Good Luck!