4 wheel alignment

[maverick]

Took my car to elite wheels and tryes in Reading to have the wheels aligned as I had new stearing gators fitted plus the wheel spacers etc . He managed to do the fronts but couldn't get the rear lock nuts off there where stuck fast . He said he could try a little heat but didn't want to risk it because if something was to brake it's not a five minute trip to a dealer and get the part off the shelf. So I agreed to leave the rears in there defence there said if I manage to free them bring it back and there will re do it for me. So is this a common problem and does anyone know of a way to free them ?

 

[highlander]

have never came across this other than in the 70s with poor quality bolts rusting inside the hub and locking...........hopefully someone on here has came across it and can advise you

 

[BennyD]

Heat usually works but I would have a word with Craig Waterman and buy a set of his rear tie bars. That way you would get perfect, play free rear geometry when you got it re-set.

 

[Contigo]

Not at all surprised. Do they have a Hunter machine?

 

[Klive]

2 dissimilar materials have been used and they've corroded together, they will separate but it will take a lot.

 

[SteveM]

Absolute nightmare to get the lock nuts undone into chassis arm. Craig has a youtube video showing the replacement of his tie rods and he uses the weight of the car but my spanner had an offset and kept slipping away. I had mechanic release mine eventually when up on ramp and he said he had to use a length of scaffold to get the leverage.

 

[Chrisbassett]

Had a similar issue when having the geo done, technician said he reached the limit of force he was happy to try without permission as he thought something would break. Told him to go ahead and two people and a big steel bar later, they had everything loose and nothing broken...but he sounded like it was touch & go.

 

[alfatwo]

Lack of maintenance..Mav The guys a Shiltec always remove and refit the spark plugs in Maser and Ferraris motor's at every service whether they need it or not
They've had a few instances where the plugs seize in...very expensive engine rebuilds! I wouldn't of thought of that one

Dave

 

[maverick]

Not at all surprised. Do they have a Hunter machine?

Yes it was on the hunter machine even placing weights on the seats etc , the guy doing it was using a large spanner but just couldn't budge it , I said use a little heat but he realy didn't want to do it . Sounds like it,s a pain , there where only very slightly out and the guy did say that in normal road conditions it won't make much difference and unless you was a racing driver on a track you wouldn't be able to tell .

 

[CatmanV2]

When mine was done they used a *lot* of heat.

C

 

[davy83]

i have had to replace all my suspension arms and i keep them coated with terotex 350 to stop them corroding up. soak them in WD40 for a few nights and try again.

 

[alfatwo]

As with any old car you do have to try and pre empt the situation before It gets too out of hand

Dave

 

[Contigo]

Lack of maintenance..Mav The guys a Shiltec always remove and refit the spark plugs in Maser and Ferraris motor's at every service whether they need it or not
They've had a few instances where the plugs seize in...very expensive engine rebuilds! I wouldn't of thought of that one

Dave

Didn't you say you were on the first set of plugs too?