Outer Limits 4x4 Board

The securing nut holding the taper bearing to the rear axle on my NB let go on the weekend allowing the axle and wheel to slide out of the diff. Luckily a serious accident was avoided. I suspect the problem stems from when I had a bearing kit fitted 3 years ago. After disassembling and cleaning the axle assembly I noted that the clearance between the bearing and axle shaft was ca. 0.8mm. This seemed excessive to me and so I assumed that the axle must have been spinning on the bearing. However, neither the bearing nor the axle surfaces show obvious evidence of this eg. both surface are apparently square and there is no ridging or gouging marks. I am therefore in a quandary as to whether this level of clearance is as it should be and therefore I simply need to replace the the thrust and locking washers, which are damaged, or must try and find another axle. Assuming the former, can anyone provide a torque figure for tensioning the the securing nut.

Regards, John Kennedy