Date:         Sun, 9 Sep 2012 13:11:56 -0700
Reply-To:     neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Radius Rod (strut) Newbs: Clean First!
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY152-ds15D610F51348B5ED425250A0AD0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Never used an impact wrench before.

Pretty sure someone posted of an electric stand alone wrench. But then
I could use a compressor for stuff like that..... and leak down tests.
     ;^)

My fear is that even after practicing on mock fasteners, using an
impact wrench, I'd snap something like one of the 3 lock nuts on an
old style radius rod.

Neil.

On 9/9/12, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Impact and heat (torches) make removing those bolts easy. They should
> always
> be replaced. Note they were originally grade 10.9 and fine thread. I still
> get them from the dealer when possible to make sure of getting the right
> stuff.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> neil n
> Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 2:11 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Radius Rod (strut) Newbs: Clean First!
>
> Hi all.
>
> Am enjoying my foray into the newer style front end. Well, mostly
> enjoying.    ;^)
>
> Last night, with a tired but determined mind, I made slow progress getting
> the radius rod outer nut off. It doesn't have far to travel but combine
> that
> lock nut with thread crud and a long wrench, it felt like it might snap!
>
> Cleaning the large portion of threads is obvious, but take a minute to
> clean
> the threads at rod end BEFORE turning that nut.
>
> Was using penetrating fluid, and turning the nut back may have helped, (as
> it did with the inner nut) but a minute with a wire wheel likely made the
> bigger difference.
>
> The older style radius rod also has these big nuts but of note, take the
> time to clean the threads at the lower 3 bolt threads. Image, new nuts
> installed:
>
> https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/RadiusArmNuts.jpg
>
> Those nuts are also lock nuts. Turn each a bit at a time.
>
> You REALLY don't want this: (image of my '81 radius rod nuts):
> https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/RadiusArmSnappedBolt.jpg
>
>
>
> Neil.
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>
> '88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engine
> s
>
>


--
Neil n

65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp

'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines