Bernie's u-bolt saga.

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BruceS
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BruceS »

You drove it how many KM's with it broken so it might have been a plan to drive it to the springworks ? (in hindsite)
Might have missed the chance to re-temper both sides to raise the nose a touch?
Is it the driver's side? Strange? Usually the off side cops the punishment.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BernieQ2 »

Passenger side Bruce, the one that hits the edge of the road most.
Would have cost me a fortune for someone else to do it, I had to remove the water tanks just to get to the back bolts :evil: :evil: :evil:
Booked in tomorrow.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BernieQ2 »

As reported I have left the spring at the spring shop in Gympie.
After showing him photos' of the still to be removed U bolt bits he said glad its not him :evil:
He suggested heating and letting the cool naturally, don't pour water on them, he also gave me a tin of penetrating stuff as Terry suggested.
His furnace is electric so he waits till he has enough jobs to warrant starting up, cost of power :evil: but said it should be done within the next week or two.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BernieQ2 »

Well some success, going on from what Bobr told me last Thursday when we had a chat...he said to put a larger nut and washer on the protruding threads and the put the correct nut on and try to move the U bolt bits DOWN....Yaaa. I have movement I can pull them down I have moved all 4 of them a bit.
I can only get about 50/60 degrees as I pull the nut up, and hard as.
I will have to cut the U bolts off above the axle just so I wont have extra to pull down, plus two of them still have a bit of the curve on them.
I may get the angle grinder out to day...if my back improves a bit from yesterdays ordeal :evil: :evil:
And I didn't suffer any Vertigo yesterday...bonus :D
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by jon_d »

Bernie.

Try pushing them back up. But coated with a lubricant.

Then coat the tops and pull down.

Then push back up and cut off.

Then pull down and out.

If you drill out a nut. It will make the perfect washesher but long.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BernieQ2 »

Not possible Jon...other wise I would be doing it. :evil: :evil:
No room under to swing a hammer.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by Greynomad »

Bernie,
I didn't take a close look while visiting.
Is it a beam front axle or independent suspension?
(Girt had a beam axle.)
If it's a beam axle, you might be able to drop the whole assembly out & work on it…
Just a thort. :?
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BernieQ2 »

Beam axle Ray...major job to remove....so it's not happening.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by BernieQ2 »

I spent three and a half hours yesterday pulling one of the U bolt bits down.
I still have around half inch to go...my back and arms told me to quit...so bloody close.
I have to draw them through 2 inches of air bag bracket plus the axle...lots of fun :evil:
Has any body a better than me way of keeping the socket on the nut upside down, I have been using insulation tape which works for a bit before letting go.
I have a breaker bar on my ratchet socket wrench, so lots of movement.
Depends on when we get home today if I put my dirty close on and attack the bolt.
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Re: Bernie's u-bolt saga.

Post by jon_d »

Easy. Put a jack under the socket head. With an old bearing or some sort of cup.between.

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