Castle Nut Removal

[krobinson]

Was trying to get the drive shafts to engage into the gearbox last night, but the buggers just wouldnt click in. After a nights sleep i decided to remove the gearbox sump to check whats wrong, and half the diff fell into the oil pan .

So i've two other spare diffs that i'll pick the best from and fit.

Last time i removed the castle nut i used a big hammer and anything i could get my hands on to get into the grooves. This resulted in the castle now half naked from its towers .

Question is, is there a tool i can buy to remove the castle nuts easily?

Keith

[Will F]

Do you mean the hub nut?

Just get a big bar and a 30mm socket!

[DIY*VALVER84]

you'll be wanting a deep reach 30mm socket and a breaker bar. few quid from auto stores. good luck.

[Stuart]

He means that big fcuker that is on the end of the Diff hosing.....

I use a 25*25*5mm Angle bar the L shape stuff. ITs a bastid of a job on the car and i usually prefer to do them off it .

If the nut is shagged deffo refit another one thats not so knackerd and ponder changing the diff bearings while your there.

[krobinson]

He means that big fcuker that is on the end of the Diff hosing.....

I use a 25*25*5mm Angle bar the L shape stuff. ITs a bastid of a job on the car and i usually prefer to do them off it .

If the nut is shagged deffo refit another one thats not so knackerd and ponder changing the diff bearings while your there.

Is there not a tool avaliable to remove them? I asked the vauxhall dealers and they said they just throw the gearbox out and replace it if the diff needs changed

Keith

[Dar]

I've never found this a problem. I always use a screwdriver or a small bar that locates in to the slots. There is also a little retainer clip thats help on with a bolt.

Anyway this may be on the F20 only which is all I have experiance of. I have included a piccy to show what im on about.

[Stuart]

GM do have a tool but its probably jsut as much labour to swap the box and send it back to the factory to be refurbed to refit into someone elses car when they shag a diff.
I dont like the screwdriver method as the nut tends to be bastid tight and the screwdrivers flex .
You could make a tool with angle iron and a socket etc but its probably just as easy to use the angle iron and lots of pressure to keep it in the slots etc

[krobinson]

After closer inspection, i noticed that what had happened is the two cogs (picture 3 + 7) had moved and fallen out the hole in the diff.




I just spent the guts of 40 mins trying to get them back in, its especially difficult because once its in the slot, it pushes the other one around with it, so after about 20 attempts i got them perfectly lined up and the drives back in to secure them!

Nightmare!!

Keith

[garyc]

Vaux dont sell them to plebs like us. You can get the part from Kent Moore. The part number is KM-447,?35.14. Well worth it for on car removal I reckon!

[Stuart]

does that mean you have one?


ahhh Keith, Mike oxford had that happen and had to spend nearly an hour trying to push them back in .