MK1 Xantia Droplinks Warning Stupid Question

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 13 Nov 2010, 20:15

Hi All
I need to replace the droplinks on my MK1 VSX and im a little bit stuck

I have in the past changed droplinks on my previous Xantias and have always managed to get the nuts undone enough to get the disc cutter onto the threaded bit and out it pops

However this time i cant get the nuts to budge

so any tips on how/where is best to set to work with the cutter

Cheers

Colin

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 13 Nov 2010, 20:19

Colin, silly question but have you tried PlusGas on them?

I truly didn't believe it was any better than WD40 until I tried it. If you need some, I have some here.

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 13 Nov 2010, 21:42

Hi Toby

Yes ive plus gassed it,but still no joy.
Looks like it was put on by someone who decided FT really meant not to be undone in the future

I can get the top nut to turn along with the threaded end but when holding it with the allen key i cant get it to turn but the bottom nut will not budge at all.
Suppose i could always cut the nuts off like slicing up a pizza

Any thoughts on any other methods

Colin

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 13 Nov 2010, 22:52

You've got some of the really thin 4" grinder discs, right?

Cut across the shank/nut until you are a poofteenth away from kissing the strut. Careful driving from the side, of a sharpened cold chisel ought to finish the job.

Repeat on the ARB if required.

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 13 Nov 2010, 22:54

I lever them off the ball and grip the ball with vice grips.

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 14 Nov 2010, 11:13

In the last 2 years, I've had to do both drop-links on the green estate. N/S first - doddle. O/S bottom a right pig - even gripping the ball didn't work (hardened so the vice-grips eventually skidded off.

This is my method for next time:

"If the (5mm) hex key keeps popping out of the socket, then it's time to get out the angle-grinder. Cut off the ball joint (cut off rubber cuff and grind through the neck of the ball joint). Cut off the Nyloc bit of the frozen nut together with the exposed thread of the stud to leave a plain nut - the heat of cutting will help loosen the rust/loctite. Now you can get vice-grips on the shoulder of the ball joint one side of the ARB and a socket on the nut on the other side. This method doesn't require much finesse with the angle grinder, only a little thought to keep the disk well away from the ARB."

I'd resort to this method at the first sign of difficulty instead of wasting a lot of time trying to get a 'frozen' nut off.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 14 Nov 2010, 12:13

i just use a thin cutting disc down the centre of the threaded shank which also cuts the nut in two, just cut till you are very nearly through now finnish it of with a thin chizle and knock omitter,

regards malcolm

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Nov 2010, 17:04

If you don't have a grinder Colin, which works a treat, a nut splitter will do the job very well...

One of these: