Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

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ecohouse1
Posts: 283
Joined: 29 Aug 2011, 12:44
x 3

Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by ecohouse1 »

I was struggling to release the rear light unit on my Xantia estate because the wing nut had been screwed on by someone who had too much weetabix the morning the fitted it!!

Access with pliers is a pain - ditto moles.

A 19 mm socket fits over it a treat and with an extention bar so you could work out of the boot aperture - it came off in a jiffy

Obviously just hand tighten back on!
Stepto1
Posts: 349
Joined: 10 Oct 2010, 22:37

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by Stepto1 »

Nice one. Struggled with mine before.

By the way, does anyone else use a socket,(forget which size) to wind the brake pistons back in? One of mine grips it nicely.
Xantia SX 1.9TD Gone to the breakers
Xantia LX 2.0HDI Taxed and MOT'd at last!
Xantia 1.8 16V SX On loan to brother-in-law
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ecohouse1
Posts: 283
Joined: 29 Aug 2011, 12:44
x 3

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by ecohouse1 »

How does the socket on the Caliper piston work? That sounds interesting.

I used to use a square shafted screwdriver on the BX Calipers and turned and pushed it back.
Stepto1
Posts: 349
Joined: 10 Oct 2010, 22:37

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by Stepto1 »

One in my set just slips on with enough grip on it to wind it back in. The teeth are just the right size.
Xantia SX 1.9TD Gone to the breakers
Xantia LX 2.0HDI Taxed and MOT'd at last!
Xantia 1.8 16V SX On loan to brother-in-law
Sportrack off road toy
Series One Land Rover
Thundercat race boat
citroenxm
Fallen Hero
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
x 70

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by citroenxm »

Ah ha someone has sumbled on my secret!!

Yes I DO aswell, I think IIRC its a 21mm socket, and while holding the caliper swung up with one hand, the other on a ratchet is perfect, for those that are slightly loose if you use a long extension then slight downward angle on the socket makes it grip better... It also depends how tight or stiff the piston is to turn back..

Who needs special tools! I bit of thought is all!

Paul
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
Stepto1
Posts: 349
Joined: 10 Oct 2010, 22:37

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by Stepto1 »

Sounds about right. I use a deep reach socket with a short extention. Seems to work better each time! Piston must be getting used to it!
Xantia SX 1.9TD Gone to the breakers
Xantia LX 2.0HDI Taxed and MOT'd at last!
Xantia 1.8 16V SX On loan to brother-in-law
Sportrack off road toy
Series One Land Rover
Thundercat race boat
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VertVega
Posts: 1178
Joined: 01 Nov 2008, 19:39
x 13

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by VertVega »

Stepto1 wrote:... By the way, does anyone else use a socket,(forget which size) to wind the brake pistons back in? ...
I modified a tool to serve this purpose and added some pics
in this thread :) ---> FOUND the right Caliper rewind Tool for an Xantia
C5 II 2.0i 16V - 2005 - Estate - 103KW - EW10A - Petrol - Manual
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Old-Guy
(Donor 2025)
Posts: 1813
Joined: 11 Sep 2008, 12:08
x 22

Re: Tight Plastic Wing Nut Tip

Unread post by Old-Guy »

ecohouse1 wrote:A 19 mm socket fits over it a treat and with an extension bar so you could work out of the boot aperture - it came off in a jiffy
Would that be a hexagon socket or a bi-hex or doesn't it make any difference?
2012 Subaru Forester - capable but no magic carpet
2011 Grand C4 Picasso VTR+ 1.6HDi - not missed!
1995 Xantia Estate SX 1.9TD in Vert Vega "The Green Lady" - sadly missed
1998 Xantia 2.1 VXD Estate in Mauritius Blue - R.I.P. (terminal tin-worm)