Cant Get My Front Sway Bar Off My R34 Gtt?

[Harey]

Hey Guys,

I fitted a whiteline rear sway bar to my R34 GTT with no hassles.

However, when I got to removing the front standard one, I cant get two of the nuts off. The two centre ones. They have a very rounded lower part to the nut.

When I fit a 14mm socket it fits perfectly over it but when I apply force it burrs the nut. My old man and I have tried lots of different things with normal house type tools.

Does anyone have any tips or ideas before I get a workshop to take them off?

[lachlanw]

are you using 6 or 12 sided sockets ?

be amazed what a slightly undersized (imperial) single hex(6 sided) hammered on to a nut will achieve

[turboedsloth]

1/2inch single hex socket and a pair of pliers/14mm spanner to hold the bolt going through the guts of it

[itsme]

If you have spare nuts (pun intended) available you could try doing what i did;

Use a chisel or another hardened tool that is similar and position it with a hammer at an almost horizontal angle and tap it until you have created a groove in the bolt head then ensure your chisel is nicely slotted in the groove and continue to tap in an anticlockwise direction until it comes undone. I have a 34 and had the exact same problem and this worked for me, alternatively you could try the above ie; hammer a small socket onto the rounded nut then try and undo it.

cheers,

Steve

[Harey]

Thanks guys, yeah I tried both hammering the socket onto the rounded nut and also using a chisel. Would prob be easier up on a hoist too, mine was just on car ramps.

Bugger!

Edited June 29, 2010 by Harey

[Harey]

1/2inch single hex socket and a pair of pliers/14mm spanner to hold the bolt going through the guts of it

Dont quite get this idea?

[Harey]

Ok dropped down to a suspension joint. They couldnt get them off with normal tools either. One they got off with the gun, the other one was too buggered. Ended up having to drill, chisel and break the nut off.

Got there in the end. They were on ridiculously tight as well.

Summary: use 6 sided sockets as you guys mentioned!

[Kinks]

highlights the importance of using good tools.

precision 6 sided sockets made using quality metal will make your life SO much easier for high torque (suspension) applications. use a shitty socket set or one with 12 sided sockets and you'll just round off nuts all day trying to undo them.

a few years ago i bought a good toolset (ratchet, socket, spanners etc) and it's one of the best purchases i've made.

[Harey]

Yeah my old man bought me a full Kincrome set, so not cheap or anything. Just a pity he bought the 12 sided sockets!!

They have been fine for all engine bay and exhaust stuff. But yeah no good for suspension!

[Harey]

Ok talked my old man into buying an air gun with a set of 6 sided sockets!!

Wow it made the job sooo easy. Only thing was I had to remove another suspension part on each side to get to the second sway bar bolt in the middle. Not sure what its called but at the front with a massive bush. No way I could have got these two parts off without an air gun with the car only on ramps. Not enough clearance to get enough force on normal sockets.

Now I am trying to convince my old man to get a hoist hehe