Advice please

[h3rman]

Ok, my car has decided it no longer like the strut on the front passenger side. Being HKS coilovers they need to go back to Japan for a refurb and being about 12-14 years old HKS themselves don't even stock spares any more.

So time for a full set of coilovers it is then. Got a new set ordered & 'en route. However I thought I would get things started by getting the old ones off and ready for the new ones to be fitted.

Currently the car is mid air with the bolts loosened off on the old coilovers, ready for the new ones. However, while I was in there I decided to make a start on making sure the track rods were loosened so that toe could be set after fitting the new coilovers. First step was to loosen the locking nut, but it is seized solid, and I also have a feeling the track rod itself is also seized to the rod ends. I have Attacked it with a wire brush to clean it all off, sprayed it with copious amounts of Plus Gas, heated it with the propane torch (all I have) for 5 minutes or so, used candle wax on the threads, etc. Basically all the tricks I can think of to no avail.

Now I also have 2x 22mm spanners 'en route as I have been forced to use an adjustable up until now. Plan is to use 1 of them to hold the rod end and one of them to undo the locking nut, but I will also add another spanner onto the one attached to the locking nut for better leaverage.

However, what can you guys suggest to help free it off? Would an Oxy-turbo mini kit like this (http://www.techweld.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=3_234&product_id=614) help?

If it can heat to temps near enough as much as oxy-acetelene then I may go for it as I can find other uses for it. I know that most guys on here will say get proper cylinders, torches, etc, however I won't be using it that much. The info on the site says it will run for 30 mins which is plenty. Pretty sure I will only need to heat it for about 1 minute each side to get the nuts glowing cherry red to remove them.

Any advice, info, etc appreciated!

 

[octo0072000]

remember the track rod ends to the rack are right and left handed thread you are not trying to tighten it are you

 

[h3rman]

Pretty sure I'm not tightening. Well it's a right hand thread, so to loosen the locknut I need to turn it clockwise to wind the lock nut down the track rod and away from the rod end.

 

[octo0072000]

Pretty sure I'm not tightening. Well it's a right hand thread, so to loosen the locknut I need to turn it clockwise to wind the lock nut down the track rod and away from the rod end.

to loosen is anti clockwise ?

 

[h3rman]

Yes, that is if I'm removing it off the rod, but the lock nut is tightened against the rod end, so I need to wind the bolt down the rod to seperate it from the rod end. So I need to turn it clockwise.

 

[octo0072000]

you just answered your own question to remove track rod end off rack end you turn clockwise so to loosen the lock nut you will turn it anti clockwise on a right hand thread

this is looking from the centre of the car outwards if you are looking from the wheel end then as snooper says

 

[the snooper]

if you want to loosen the lock nut then you turn it clockwise so it moves up the track rod away from you, to remove the track rod end you would turn anticlockwise so it moves closer to you and eventually off the track rod

 

[the snooper]

you just answered your own question to remove track rod end off rack end you turn clockwise so to loosen the lock nut you will turn it anti clockwise on a right hand thread

this is looking from the centre of the car outwards if you are looking from the wheel end then as snooper says

correct

 

[CKJDJK]

Your current method of heating could do the job. heat the nut and track rod end as hot as you dare without damaging the boot which can be protected with wet rags (MOT failure if you do). Cool it right down with water and repeat several times. The expansion and contraction brakes the rust bond and it should then come loose. Dont wind the nut to far back as the thread could be damaged, wait until the rod end is off then remove the nut and clean threads with a thread chaser or similar.
Chris

 

[h3rman]

if you want to loosen the lock nut then you turn it clockwise so it moves up the track rod away from you, to remove the track rod end you would turn anticlockwise so it moves closer to you and eventually off the track rod

That is what I am doing, clockwise to move it up the track rod away from me and the rod end.

Your current method of heating could do the job. heat the nut and track rod end as hot as you dare without damaging the boot which can be protected with wet rags (MOT failure if you do). Cool it right down with water and repeat several times. The expansion and contraction brakes the rust bond and it should then come loose. Dont wind the nut to far back as the thread could be damaged, wait until the rod end is off then remove the nut and clean threads with a thread chaser or similar.
Chris

More heat it is then, however I'm not having much luck with that right now. :-/ Like you say, don't want to damage the rod end. Oh, and what are people's opinions of that oxy-torch kit I linked to above? Just a mini one, but if it can heat almost as hot as oxy-acetylene it should hopefully do the trick, no?

 

[hareng]

Got a better solution for you, less costly.

Shirt of heating nuts and bolts up to red and in turn destroying hardening etc, this stuff never failed - yet.

Not sure where to get it from as the company usually takes other products to fairs etc.
Lubro Teknik LT8 probably £8 400ml but where Plusgas and others fail to do the job, LT8 has. I have even heated two parts up to no avail, let cool and spray with this stuff, crack undone, unbelievable why its never been marketed properley.
The last testament roll bar bush caps with M8 bolts either side were solid, one bolt starting to rotate but not in the nut meaning a bit further it would have sheared. LT8 undone, spray leave 3 mins easy as that.
If this stuff dont work nothing will short of destroying.

Only info i have is on the spray can.
PO Box43
Bramnall
SK7 1HE
01614409669

Thank me later its serious good stuff.

 

[h3rman]

Thanks for the info, but I can't for the life of me find anywhere that has any for sale. Not even eBay or Amazon market place. Might give the place a call tomorrow morning on the phone number you've provided. Googling the number shows it seems to still be valid, so hopefully they can help.

I've also been looking at one of those inductor heating devices. Not cheap by a long shot, but a couple of the rear toe & camber bolts are right next to the fuel tank and I really don't fancy going near that with an open flame. Small slip and bang! Could also find 1001 other uses for an inductive heating device. Can get a 17mm nut glowing red in 15 seconds with out the surrounding parts getting too hot, so safe for track rod ends as well.

Will try the above first though. Much cheaper. New coilovers arrived today, so got the fronts fitted tonight and will do the rears tomorrow or Friday. Will need to wait a couple of weeks for them to settle before going for an alignment anyway and I'm setting them all to the same height, etc as the old ones, so all geometry settings should remain failry close, but will still need checked over at the very least.

 

[ale36]

Got a better solution for you, less costly.

Shirt of heating nuts and bolts up to red and in turn destroying hardening etc, this stuff never failed - yet.

Not sure where to get it from as the company usually takes other products to fairs etc.
Lubro Teknik LT8 probably £8 400ml but where Plusgas and others fail to do the job, LT8 has. I have even heated two parts up to no avail, let cool and spray with this stuff, crack undone, unbelievable why its never been marketed properley.
The last testament roll bar bush caps with M8 bolts either side were solid, one bolt starting to rotate but not in the nut meaning a bit further it would have sheared. LT8 undone, spray leave 3 mins easy as that.
If this stuff dont work nothing will short of destroying.

Only info i have is on the spray can.
PO Box43
Bramnall
SK7 1HE
01614409669

Thank me later its serious good stuff.

Is this It?

 

[h3rman]

Is this It?

I did find it on that site, but when I checked yesterday it only work via google cache. the actual site was down. Gonna order some now!

 

[the snooper]

just get a big spanner on the nut and a pair of stilsons on the track rod and give it some welly

 

[h3rman]

Like I said, gonna double up a couple of spanners for better leverage, but will order some of that stuff first. Can't hurt and always have a use for decent penetrating oil.

Will be swapping over the rears this weekend and hopefully have this stuff delivered by then to try out.

 

[anto]

If you can get a lump hammer at it give it a few wacks with it. Have something solid on the underside of the nut obviously. Between that and wd40 it usually gets them loose unless the threads are truly destroyed.

 

[hareng]

Is this It?

Thats it, not sure think that shop went bust last year or year before.

Worth a try even for other things.
Try Plusgas first then slap that on.
On my second can in 15 years about a third left.

 

[h3rman]

not sure think that shop went bust last year or year before.

Don't say that! I've ordered a can from them! Should it not arrive I'll contact PayPal and get a refund. Also paid via credit card so got another form of protection on that as well should things go belly up.

One thing with that site is when I tried it 2 days ago via google it said the domain was for sale. Now the site is live again, very odd indeed, but either way, glad I've paid via PayPal/Credit Card just to be safe.

 

[desmo11225]

Lubro-Teknik LT8

Hello Everyone
I too have had a tough job freeing Hinges, Bolts , Threads I've refurbished an old 1950s 60s cast iron stove, for the workshop, no heating,no hammering,a hard job and very slow with WD40.
Saw your recommendations for the LT8, and by chance I spoke to the Owner John [Forgot his Sir Name] and recieved a 400ml Aerosol can yesterday, £7 plus £5 courier payment,it's not allowed through the post.
John told me the Box number is not in use now, New adress on can is.
3 Fountains Road
Bramhall SK7 1HE Tel, 0161 440 9669
Hope this helps All the Best desmo11225