Pedro'74

Hi All,

I'm in the process of installing the lower A-arms, and here's a naive question: ya know the rectangular "nuts" that attach the front of the A-arm shaft to the frame? Are those supposed to be "lock nuts" (deformed threads?), or not? I'm finding them pretty tight---the bolts don't get past a certain point without "strong encouragement", and I'm afraid to use brute force and ruin the threads. I thought of running a tap through them to clean up the threads, but if those things are lock nuts, then I'd be really ruining them...

Thanks in advance!

:cheers:
-Pedro

Twin_Turbo

They are supposed to go in very tightly so the bolts don't come loose. While you have them off, round off the edges on the side that contacts the frame, those things easily dig into the thin metal and can promote cracking.

NHvette

I do not think so ... waiting for agreement, since I'm not sure.

What makes me think not is that there are lock washers used on the bolt
head side. If a lock nut, then a lock washer is not used.

:seeya

Pedro'74

Thanks for the quick responses, guys! I'll wait for a consensus, but in the meantime I'll go buy a tap of that size--of course, I have almost all possible sizes but that one... Damn Murphy and his stupid laws... :jester

Thanks again,

:cheers:
-Pedro

Pedro'74

Maybe I should get a thread restorer/cleaner, instead of a tap---something less "aggressive" and less likely to make a mess...

-Pedro

71coupe

You should IM Norval. I think he takes his car apart annually :lol:

Pedro'74

Thanks, 71coupe! I would, if I could get the instant message feature to work on my computer... :conehead

Does anyone want to settle the score? I've bought a thread restorer kit from Sears---this thing may come handy in the future---, and I'll use it if that's supposed to be a plain nut.

Thanks,
-Pedro

GTR1999

You could some loctite on them to be sure. 242blue is removable or the red 271 is stronger. I use the 271 on ring gear bolts.
Gary

Pedro'74

Thanks, Gary! I ended up not using any loctite, because the bolts and threads were already covered with anti-sieze, and it would be a pain to clean things thoroughly.

I think I can answer my own question now: that's a plain nut, and the problem I was having was that the threads were too dirty. Using the thread restoring tool I bought today I was able to clean the threads, and after that the bolts went in and they took the 70 ft-lb of torque without a problem.

Problem solved---now on to mission "spring install".

Thanks for the responses, guys!

:cheers:
-Pedro