prevent or at least substantially mitigate loosening of the nut 150 in other embodiments the retaining plate 140 is not a plate at all rather the plate 140 can be a single member extending from the nut 150 and one of the lugs 128 somewhat resembling a crescent wrench but still having non rotating engagement features 142 144 to prevent loosening of the axle nut 150 in some embodiments two or more of these members can be usedone for each lug 128 with more members engaging more lugs 128 the loosening resistance is increased in some cases where loosening is particularly prevalent and potentially harmful a retaining plate engaging many lugs 128 can be used in other circumstances where the loosening phenomenon is less prevalent or less severe fewer engagement apertures 144 can be used at the discretion of the operator the preferred plate shown which engages all four lugs also operates to keep the spacing between the hub and the wheel consistent in general the greater the distance separating the lugs 128 or other point at which the retaining plate 140 engages the hub 120 and or wheel 130 and the nut 150 the greater the loosening resistance due to the greater leverage however even a small distance between the first aperture 142 and second aperture 144 strongly resists loosening of the nut 150 the retaining plate 140 can include a shaped portion 146 that protrudes from the body of the plate 140 the shaped portion.