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MG MGA - Steering wheel nut

Is it OK to place a steel bar through the steering column universal joint as a restraint when undoing the nut. Seems a bit brutal but can't think of any other way. The manual says the nut is torqued to 500lb-ins that I think is 41.6 ft-lb? This seems a lot and will test my lightweight hub puller. Torquing the nut back will also be a problem without a steel bar to hold the column. Don't think I want to use the steering wheel to hold it.
J H Cole

I have always undone mine just by holding my 14" steering wheel rim. What have you tried so far?

Steve
Steve Gyles

As steve states, a non issue.
R J Brown

In my case, my wife tells me that I am the nut holding the steering wheel.
She is definitely the one who provides most of the "torque" in our car so we are a good team!

I tightened my steering wheel the same way as Steve but the splines are really tight fit so the nut doesnt really do too much, but give some extra peace of mind.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

I don't have a socket to fit the nut so I've been using an old fashioned 8" adjustable spanner-the square type, in one hand and the wheel in the other. I didn't want to stress the wheel too much since in the past I've had enough trouble with it cracking by the spokes. Sounds as if you keep going regardless, possible I might try it with a helper holding the wheel.
J H Cole

I would hold the universal joint as you describe. They are quite robust and should withstand the torque.
Barry
Barry Gannon

OK I admit that I used a hammer and chisel on a parts car recently. (I didn't have my socket) and it came apart easily with very little damage to the nut. I used to use this method all the time many years ago and resorted to using it to remove my axle filler plug last year. It's never failed yet, but sometimes the nut (or the plug in that case) was rendered unusable. Of course if you use the correct size socket it comes off easily too!
Neil McGurk

I have learnt over the recent years that investment in the correct tools makes nearly every task on the car so much easier. The number of hours I must have spent previously trying to "make do" when, for a moderate outlay on the correct tool, the job is completed in seconds or minutes. And you have the tool available for future use.

I bought a 1 5/16" AF socket for a couple of pounds or so and it does the job perfectly. No roughened edges on the nut, no damage to the inside of the boss when the adjustable spanner slips.

Surely it's a no-brainer.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I have not got my books at hand but I think the same socket also fits the front wheel hub nuts, so it would be a useful addition to the tool kit.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2010 and 09/06/2010

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