24seven 104 Posted August 14, 2006 There are 2 opposing V grooves in the drive shafts, and the flanges of the hub nuts have been crimped into them. How the hell do I get them off? I can't get a punch in there, and I don't want to try forcing the nut round in case I break something. I want to get the engine and box out so I can paint them, as well as rebuild the whole lot. Any ideas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boombang 2 Posted August 14, 2006 just put a big breaker bar on it and turn it - the nuts aren't very hard and the staking will pop back out - its just to stop is loosening itself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
24seven 104 Posted August 14, 2006 seemed to be in pretty tight tho. I tried that once but didn't want to put too much effort in because I was paranoid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve@cornwall 100 Posted August 14, 2006 seemed to be in pretty tight tho. I tried that once but didn't want to put too much effort in because I was paranoid. Already got the bottom ball-joint+ track rod end+ caliper disconnected? Why not release the strut and pull the shafts out with the hubs on? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simes 248 2 Cars Posted August 14, 2006 Breaker bar + Scaff pole for extra leverage. Tends to undo them - you won't snap it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
24seven 104 Posted August 14, 2006 ok thanks. In case it wasn't already obvious this is my first 205 . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianthemagical 1 Posted August 14, 2006 isn't it something like 200 nm of torque when doing them up? even with a 2ft breaker bar you'll need to put a lot of effort in to it. try taking the hub nuts of a sxo with them off the car, put an old steelie on it, i was standing on the wheel and my dad was leaning in to the breaker bar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kate205gti 4 Posted August 14, 2006 force it round a scaffold pole works wonders Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markic 0 Posted August 15, 2006 when you put them back on swap them over and you'l find afresh part of the nut ends up at the groove Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug309twin40s 1 Posted August 15, 2006 yep a lot of force is needed usually to undo hub nuts expecially if theyve been on there awhile. ive got a 15ft scaffold pole handy for these job but sometimes even with this it needs some force. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLPoomobile 958 Posted August 15, 2006 Make sure you have the right size hub nut socket too! I was convinced I had the correct size and thought it was strange that there was a tiny bit of play allowing the socket to slide off. Turned out I had a socket 1mm too big. Seems like a ridiculous error to make, but like I said, I was convinced it was the correct size for that hub nut! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
24seven 104 Posted August 15, 2006 Thanks for the advice. In the end I didn't bother and decided to strip it all from in teh engine bay, leaving the box in as it's not broken or playing up, and as teh old saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." So I finally got down to the head gasket that put the car off the road early march, which looks like this. Turns out that the cambelt hadn't been put under any any tension at all - the adjuster was left neither tensioning not slackening the belt, but instead just sortof floating rattling about, leaving the belt slack, the cam timing about 1/2 tooth advanced which IIRC can cause the engine to run hot and overheat, which may have lead to the gasket giving up (considering the owner before the last owner had rebuilt it and rally prepped it, the gasket died a bit early, and the last owner had a new belt put on). I'm proud of myself, considering I'm just 'having a go' at this engine rebuilding stuff . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
