AGGGHHH!!

I've followed the instructions to the letter, detached the rear part of the steering idler, but the nyloc nut is turning the threaded bar that holds the front of the idler on - so I can't do it up or remove it.

pic below:

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo59/jjleonard_uk/Image027.jpg

Has anybody got any ideas how I can secure the threaded bar so I can get the nut off, and fit the new idler?

Cheers
John.

hmmm... answered my own question. A pair of mole grips did the trick - held the bar tight enough to undo the nut.

Mind you, I don't know how I'm going to tighten it right up again....  :-/

jjleonard wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 12:28:

hmmm... answered my own question. A pair of mole grips did the trick - held the bar tight enough to undo the nut. Mind you, I don't know how I'm going to tighten it right up again....  :-/

The secret is to use a non-nyloc nut to pull the idler hard onto the ball joint so it locks it. Then remove it and fit the nyloc one

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 12:41:

jjleonard wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 12:28: hmmm... answered my own question. A pair of mole grips did the trick - held the bar tight enough to undo the nut. Mind you, I don't know how I'm going to tighten it right up again....  :-/ The secret is to use a non-nyloc nut to pull the idler hard onto the ball joint so it locks it. Then remove it and fit the nyloc one

Always use a new nyloc nut! Use an electrical screwdriver to pull the nylon out of the old nyloc nut and use that first :y

i put a jack under the ball joint to put enough pressure on so the taper grips :y

HerefordElite wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 13:01:

i put a jack under the ball joint to put enough pressure on so the taper grips :y

That's what I did in the end... it worked a charm!

As regards the new nyloc nut, well, I ended up re-using the old one. Mind you, i'm changing the wishbones next weekend so I can change it then.

jjleonard wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 13:18:

HerefordElite wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 13:01: i put a jack under the ball joint to put enough pressure on so the taper grips :y That's what I did in the end... it worked a charm! As regards the new nyloc nut, well, I ended up re-using the old one. Mind you, i'm changing the wishbones next weekend so I can change it then.

def a top tip for anyone changing their idler :y

Thanks everybody for their help and tips. Got it sorted and the car handles a little bit better... doing the wishbones next weekend will sort it out completely (after a WIM trip and four new tyres!)  :y

jjleonard wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 13:18:

HerefordElite wrote on 04. Apr 2009 at 13:01: i put a jack under the ball joint to put enough pressure on so the taper grips :y That's what I did in the end... it worked a charm! As regards the new nyloc nut, well, I ended up re-using the old one. Mind you, i'm changing the wishbones next weekend so I can change it then.

Same here :y