Xantia drop link nuts ?

[Mandrake]

Hi All,

I've just received some lemforder drop links for the Xantia V6 and discovered that unlike their track rod ends and bottom ball joints they don't come with any nuts.

Does anyone know off hand what size nut/thread they are and whether they are nylock nuts or standard nuts so I can get some ? Is there a washer fitted as well ? Chances of the original nuts being salvageable are close to nill, I'm fully prepared to hacksaw off the old ones if necessary.

I have done drop links once before on a Xantia and should know this, but it was about 5 years ago...

Edit: I should probably add that the RPO number is 07905, since there are two sizes of drop link nut for the Xantia depending on year...

[xantia_v6]

They are M12 nyloc with a flat washer on the strut end (12x24x3.2).

[Mandrake]

Ah brilliant, perfect timing, I was heading off to B&Q in about an hour to get them

So this should be ok then:

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/hardware/bol ... 12-9708498" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Out of interest, what does the (W) in front of M12 mean, does that indicate thread pitch or something ?

Although it doesn't give all the dimensions, I'm assuming these washers will be ok:

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/hardware/bol ... 12-9708071" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mandrake]

Nuts and washers bought, fit perfectly, cheers. Now to find some non-rainy days to fit them

[Mandrake]

Under the top nut where it bolts onto the strut there should be a washer. From what I can remember it would probably be OK without a washer too. Some Xantia's with non-original drop links may be missing the washers...

[myglaren]

I was just looking at screw/bolt designs and specs, mainly as I have meant to look up Whitworth for a long time and found this:

British Morris and MG engines from 1923 to 1955 were built using metric threads but with bolt heads and nuts dimensioned for Whitworth spanners (wrenches) and sockets.
The background for this was that the engines were produced by a previously French company that was set up for metric production but for the average British motorist to be able to service his car the bolt heads had to fit imperial-sized spanners.

[xantia_v6]

I was just looking at screw/bolt designs and specs, mainly as I have meant to look up Whitworth for a long time and found this:

British Morris and MG engines from 1923 to 1955 were built using metric threads but with bolt heads and nuts dimensioned for Whitworth spanners (wrenches) and sockets.

So in 1961, Jaguar borrowed a just released Ferrari GT250 from a customer, to test it against the just released E-type. They could not get a proper HP reading on their rolling road dyno, so whipped the engine out to put on an engine dyno.
In the morning they went to refit the engine into the Ferrari, but the cleaners had been in, and had swept up all the bolts and nuts that had be left lying on the floor and thrown them out. Jaguar had no stock of metric fasteners at that time.
The Ferrari owner was due un to pick up his car, so someone had the bright idea of popping around to Morris, and picking up a selection of metric bolts and nuts to reassemble the car. So somewhere there was a Ferrari GT250 with the engine held in with bolts with Whitworth heads. Probably confused a few Ferrari mechanics! True story.

[Foggyoutcome]

I had 2 drop links delivered today from gfs and they had the nylon nuts without washers, if the droplinks that are on the car has them il leave them on there I think .

[Mandrake]

Fitted the droplinks today, quite an ordeal as one lower nut had to be hacksawed off...but got there in the end. There were washers on both top bolts so I fitted new washers.

[Foggyoutcome]

I have a 1mm metal cutting disk just for the job.

[Jim2.0Hdi]

I have a 1mm metal cutting disk just for the job.

Absolutely ideal for the job when added to a suitable grinder , saves a large amount of frustration when the drop link nuts prove difficult to remove and I must admit ... my preferred method of removal

[Foggyoutcome]

I have a little one handed makita grinder that's just up for it

[Mandrake]

Lucky buggers Even if I had something like that I have no where to plug it in, the nearest power socket is a good 30 metres from where I'm working on the car....so good old elbow grease and sweat was the only solution, especially once I'd started the job and couldn't back out... I wouldn't recommend anyone else tackle the job without an angle grinder or cutter though, its not an experience I want to repeat!

[addo]

A two channel, 2000W (continuous, combined) inverter should cover you. Enough grunt for a lead light and grinder.

[RichardW]

Grinder, cutting discs, power supply, ramps, drive to work on, MIG, + tea supply at mine if you need it in the future