Impact and heat (torches) make removing those bolts easy. They should always
be replaced. Note they were originally grade 10.9 and fine thread. I still
get them from the dealer when possible to make sure of getting the right
stuff.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
neil n
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 2:11 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Radius Rod (strut) Newbs: Clean First!

Hi all.

Am enjoying my foray into the newer style front end. Well, mostly
enjoying.    ;^)

Last night, with a tired but determined mind, I made slow progress getting
the radius rod outer nut off. It doesn't have far to travel but combine that
lock nut with thread crud and a long wrench, it felt like it might snap!

Cleaning the large portion of threads is obvious, but take a minute to clean
the threads at rod end BEFORE turning that nut.

Was using penetrating fluid, and turning the nut back may have helped, (as
it did with the inner nut) but a minute with a wire wheel likely made the
bigger difference.

The older style radius rod also has these big nuts but of note, take the
time to clean the threads at the lower 3 bolt threads. Image, new nuts
installed:

https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/RadiusArmNuts.jpg

Those nuts are also lock nuts. Turn each a bit at a time.

You REALLY don't want this: (image of my '81 radius rod nuts):
https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/RadiusArmSnappedBolt.jpg

Neil.

--
Neil n

65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp

'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engine
s