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MG TD TF 1500 - Stripped spindle nut

Looking for suggestions on how to remove a stripped spindle nut. The splined hub doesn't leave me any room to pry up on the washer in order to apply pressure on the nut. My fingers are crossed hoping the spindle's threads are okay.

Thanks.
Carl Floyd

the dremel moto tool has a very thin cutoff wheel. could you make a cut and split the nut off. there are nut splitters (ouch!) at the auto parts stores as well. tom
tm peterson

The splined hub is still on the spindle, so the nut is recessed. Can't get a cutoff wheel or a nut splitter anywhere close the nut.

I ground down a mini-pry bar, but I couldn't get the socket on the nut with the pry bar in there, too. Not much room to work. Gotta be a way.
Carl Floyd

Any way to get a socket on the nut and then apply pressure to the wheel hub with a hub puller? I was thinking if you could grab the socket with something like a pipe wrench while applying pressure to the hub, you might get the nut to a spot it will grab.
Bruce Cunha

I think Bruce has got the way, but you're going to have to figure out how to transfer the pressure from the three-jaw puller through the middle of the socket and onto the end of the spindle, or the puller would just be pulling everything together, instead of pulling the hub away from the spindle.

I'd suggest a short piece of square stock, either 1/2" or 3/8" to match your socket, with one end ground to a point, and with a small (maybe 3/16") hole drilled in the other end to give the puller something to index into. Then, you could turn the square stock with an open-end or adjustable wrench to try and unscrew the nut, after you put some moderate pressure on the puller.

Best of luck, and please let us know your results - - Alec
Alec Darnall

Carl,

I assume you've removed the cotter pin, and that you're concerned about the castellated nut?

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Can you carefully drill a small hole down each side of the nut and gradually enlarge your drills until the nut is splittable with a centre punch hammered into the holes ? Richard.
R Payne

Gordon,

Correct.

I am going to try Alec's method. I'm leery of splitting the nut for fear of damaging the spindle threads (if they're not already). Using the center punch would sure beat the cold chisel, though.
Carl Floyd

Carl, you might try just putting the socket( might need a deep socket) on the Axel nut and then put the center of the three jaw puller into the square hole in the socket. Apply pressure and then turn the hub and puller together. If you can keep enough pressure on the nut via the hub, it may start and turn.

Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Carl, I'm curious which side of the car your working on. I assume you know one side is left hand thread.

LaVerne
LaVerne

Carl,

This is just the type of thread I like - gives us a chance to be inventive. My TD doesn't have wires but from my MGB days I remember a hole in the spline so that you could get a split pin into the nut. Can you not place a socket over the nut and drill a couple of dowel holes into the socket and the nut. If you use a long socket this should allow you to turn and pull at the same time.


Jan T
Jan Targosz

I checked the threads to be sure. Neither side is left hand thread. Both sides are right hand thread with castled nuts & cotter pins.

Thank to all for the help, but Alec wins the beer (you are comming to MG 2006?).

Dropped a 1" socket over the nut & used a 1/2 X 1/2 X 2 1/2" piece of bar stock (rounded the end & corners that went into the nut/spline side and center punched on the other side). Borrowed a 6" 3 jaw gear puller from Advance Auto on the loaner program and went at it with a couple of hillbilly socket sets (adjustable wrenches).

The nut came off. The bearings came off. The threads on the nut had been sacrificed and the threads on the spindle are A-Okay (just like it's supposed to work in real life). A GOOD day!

What an awesome forum! Thanks for the suggestions.

BTW, my dad took some pics (the car is at is house cause my garage is waaay too full) if anyone is interested.

Carl
http://www.britcars.net/FloydC2.html
Carl Floyd

Cudos to Bruce for the original idea of using a puller & socket. So, I owe both of you a beer or two.

Thanks.
Carl Floyd

Just the kind of thing that this ring is absolutly priceless for. Perhaps with some of the bigger clubs you might find this kind of creativity, but for most of us, having the knowledge base of this group is fantastic.

Carl are you bringing the TD to Gattlinberg? Give a discription and I will say Hi. I will be there in my 67 B GT Primrose yellow, with light blue/red letter Wisconsin license.

My TD is just not broken in enough for that trip. Have to rebuild up my confidence in the new mechanicals.
Bruce Cunha

Fantastic, Carl - That's the beauty of an open forum - one idea generates another. I'm so glad the spindle threads are OK. Having it dressed down and threaded to the next smaller size would have been a pain, not to mention a possible safety issue.

Can't make it to Gatlinburg this year - my youngest daughter is Matron of Honor at our God-daughter's wedding using wedding cars tonbridge up in Montana, and the wife and I have been told we have no choice but to attend. I'll think about you all sweltering down here, while I'm enjoying some cool mountain air <grin>.

Please give me a rain-check on those beers - - Alec
Alec Darnall

Sorry Carl, It's been over a year ago that I Rebuilt the front end and I could have sworn they were right and left handed. My memory is going the way my of my hair.

LaVerne
LED DOWNEY

"Please give me a rain-check on those beers"

Will do, Alec.

Bruce,

Actually, it was a TF 1500. Now, a TF with a TD engine. I will be there. One of my local clubs is assisting with the entire event (the prez is mwhitt that posts here).

The plan was for my wife to drive the TF & for me to drive the '79 MGBV8. The problem is it's still in pieces. I keep running in to things like this spindle nut, the wheel cylinders are all stuck, etc. Doesn't help that this car has been sitting half disassembled for 35 years.

I could trailer it down and display it as a work in progress. Then y'all would raz me for painting it Platinum Grey & dying the seats black.
Carl Floyd

The front spindle threads are handed with the left side being left handed thread. Could someone have put the wrong spindle on it?
Sandy Sanders
Sandy Sanders

I stand corrected. Led & Sandy are correct on the threads. I checked again. Over the years I had forgotten about the inverse nature of the threads of the spindle nut to the knock off. I used to know that from working on my dad's '63 B.

Sometimes those late hours in the garage really slow things down.
Carl Floyd

Carl

You bring the BV8 and I will have to stay away, least I get drool on it.


My TD is ivory with black interior. That is how the interior came when I got in back in 1974. I like it.

Paint and interior are like funny hair cuts and piercings on the young. It can be changed.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce,

My B V8 needs new paint. My father-in-law painted it 18 years ago. There will be plenty of much, much nicer V8s to drool over. If you come early, the annual British V8 Meet is in nearby Townsend, TN June 18-21. We will have 50+ cars. Some of them will also be at MG 2006.

http://www.britishv8.org/2006-British-V8-Car-Meet.htm

Our TF will be a driver. It will not be anywhere near 100% original. When someone feels compelled to tell me that something is not correct, I will point out that I don't have the correct 1500cc engine for the car either, but that I do have a spare Rover 3.9L V8 that I could use. ;)
Carl Floyd

This thread was discussed between 24/05/2006 and 28/05/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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