11 replies to this topic

[WiredbyWilson]

when changing a driveshaft seal today i noticed that my tie bar nuts on the subframe were loose, which is obviously a worry!

have tried searchin minispares, but to be honest im confused what size nut is what! help me out if you can people.

also is it possible to get nyloc nuts for the rear mounts on the front subframe, or can i just change the bolts from inside the car to nice stainless steel metric ones?

thanks all.

wilson

[Ethel]

You'd probably get away with stainless if you wanted, not as strong as 8.8 grade HTS but still stronger than the rubber or mild steel sheet bodywork 5/16 unf or M.8 will do. I wouldn't use stainless on the tie rods - 7/16UNF.

Edited by Ethel, 14 August 2008 - 10:52 PM.

[Big_Adam]

Please, people of TMF. Check yellow pages for a local fixing shop. Nuts/bolts/washers are dirt cheap. Not 0.20p a pop from Mini Spares.

[Guess-Works.com]

you'll find the 'bolts' which the front rear subframe mount attach to should be a pair of threads connected with a strap and not individual bolts...

[WiredbyWilson]

I have a shed load of nuts bolts and washers - sadly nothign big enough for the tie bar ends (where it bolts through the subframe).

I can sort the rear mounts no problems, but really really need to get new tie bar nuts because I think the palstic bit is dead and they are workign loose.

Surely I must be able to get these nuts???

[GraemeC]

As said above, any 7/16" UNF Nylock type nuts will be fine for the tie rods.

[WiredbyWilson]

sorry for being daft guys - didn't realise you were refferring to the internal thread size - hence why i have 16mm nuts when i wanted small ones - doh!

[GraemeC]

The 'proper' nut is hard to come by as a standard 7/16"UNF nut will need a 5/8" AF spanner, not the oversized 11/16"AF. However as long as all the washers are good then a standard nut will do the job fine.

[WiredbyWilson]

would this be the nut i need for the tie rods?

the washers are all the original ones so maybe i should change them as well??

Wilson (noob when ordering old school nuts and bolts)

[GraemeC]

Yes that would do fine.

And for Adam's benefit, the same size nut froma nut and bolt specialist on line is 33p - some 21p more expensive!

The washers are:
http://minispares.co....aspx?pid=34112
http://minispares.co....aspx?pid=35456

[Big_Adam]

GRRR!

NOT ONLINE! A GOD DAMN SHOP!

You know, with people in it.

What the hell happened to people and shops. Feck the internet.

[GraemeC]

Online shops are generally cheaper due to less overheads, 'flexible' working hours etc and the ability to reach a wider customer base when dealing with what are now generally known as specialised items - imperial nuts and bolts are becoming harder to find 'off the shelf'.

Yes some back street ironmongers/motor factors/fastenings supplies may have boxes of imperially sized stuff but they don't generally class them as a stocked item - and once any existing stock is gone may not order any more in.

Unfortunately it is a sad reflection of the cut price, "stack it high, sell it cheap" world we have engineered our way into that is meaning more specialist shops are being driven into closure. The internet will soon be the only way to get unusual stuff whether we like it or not.