Big Ford Nut

[bricol]

Some of the larger multi-point sockets seem to have more than a mm of play in as standard anyway.

I'd probably give it a go manually - a constant force, rather than impacts from a gun - although it probably wouldn't round it off completely, and it won't matter on the one being thrown - but it might on the new one if you need to get it off again.

 

[colnerov]

It is not LH thread. With some effort managed to borrow a 29mm years back when changed the other side.

Mole grips!

It could depend on which side of the car it is on as to whether it may be left or right hand thread.

 

[mtt.tr]

I couldn't imagine living with a hole in my socket set collection!!!

 

[Kram]

If the 30mm fails to round off the nut try Mole Grips they always work.

My dad likes them but one time was enough for me.

The big 75mm swedish pipe wrench will have no problems undoing 29mm but the teeth will bite in to the nut, but not round it. Its a nice tool so I do try to use them if the nut or bolt is not cosmetically important.

 

[Aerohead]

Superglue some steel shim on each side of the nut to take up the slack then 30mm will be ok

I seem to remember a bodge method that involves using aluminum foil to get an under size nut up to spec, not certain an axle nut is the right test bed though.

 

[Kram]

Alu foil is too soft, its never going to end well.

 

[pedrobedro]

I couldn't imagine living with a hole in my socket set collection!!!

I'll not sleep tonight now thinking about this I have used a 6 point 30mm socket on the windy gun for this with no problems.

 

[JEZGUZ]

I've used beer can (use soft drinks can if you like) shim wrapped around a chewed up nut and then hammered a six sided socket on, came off ok.

 

[Bobupndown]

Bodge it only if you have no other option. Buy the socket, do it right. You'll have it ready and waiting the next time you need it.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Bodge it only if you have no other option. Buy the socket, do it right. You'll have it ready and waiting the next time you need it.

Always true - better to have tools you don't need than need tools you don't have.

 

[mtt.tr]

I'll not sleep tonight now thinking about this I have used a 6 point 30mm socket on the windy gun for this with no problems.

I have 5.5mm up to 55mm no gaps until about 32mm where odd sizes don't send to happen.
This is long and short sockets.

Same with spanners.

 

[redlig]

It is not LH thread. With some effort managed to borrow a 29mm years back when changed the other side.

Mole grips!

Why not ? They are proven, in lab.conditions, to damage if not round off any sized nut or bolt known to man. Millions of faithful users will attest to that.

 

[8ob]

You cant win these days, five sided sockets, five and six point torx plus variations for security. Then the 18.5mm, 19.5mm and 21.5mm sockets. We just have to accept that car manufacturers are going to carry on building in buggerance to deter tinkerers.

Bob

 

[Pete.]

If I was in a pinch I would take a 30mm 6-point socket, cut down each point of the hex with a thin disc and weld them back up so that the weld pulled the sides in a bit.

Then I'd probably have to go and buy a 29mm socket because I'd just made that one too small to fit

 

[Keithmac]

I personally can't see a single hex 30mm socket rounding off a 29mm nut, but if it was me I'd buy the 29mm socket.

 

[Bornfree]

Personal experience?

Yes I've done 1 1/8" wheel nuts with a 30mm 6 sided impact socket without a problem.

 

[Aerohead]

Well I kept my wallet shut, reconsidered all advice on here and after looking at the favorable weather, combined with a chance for a long lunch break today I went for it.

My 30mm six-sided socket had no problems with the Ford rear axle 29mm OEM type slotted at the corners style hub nut, I didn't use an impact on advice here and just used by long 1/2" driver with body weight.

Think I spend the longest amount of time cleaning the brake drum and deburring the rust edge on the outer lip, whole job took nearly ninty minutes.

Only the second time I have replaced this type a classic bearings, getting the old shells out was my main worry but using my favorite old screw driver they tapped out fine. I do have a set of proper bearing drift-plugs, and combined with a session in the freezer the new shells went right in. New axle nut is conventional type, used my big torque wrench to get it on at 155 lbs/ft tight with no problems.

Result! Saved £6.90 on another socket I will rarely usee, spent £16 all in for a replacement FAG bearing that proved easier than expected to replace.

 

[bricol]

getting the old shells out was my main worry but using my favorite old screw driver they tapped out fine.

As this is a welding forum - break the inner race out, run a bead of weld around the inside of the outer race. Let it cool. Turn the housing over to let the race simply fall out.