The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

I had grand intentions of replacing bushes in the front end of my L series while i had the whole front end apart doing the suspension so I bought a few different ones. Turns out I didnt need the control arm bushes or lower swaybar bushes i bought as they were very tight so I didnt bother. Upper swaybar and radius rod definitely needed doing.

I couldnt for the life of me get the nut on the radius rod undone on the first one I tried, and I started to round the edges of the nut so I abandoned it right there. Does anyone have any tips or experience with this? When a ring spanner starts to round a nut you know your in trouble..

At the moment those bushes make a nice big squelching squeaking kind of noise all the time so Im keen to get them changed out.

I'd clean the exposed threads up as much as possible, spray with a penetrative lubricant and let it soak for few days. Then get a pair of vice grips and use them to loosen it.

If that doesn't work get a nut splitter ( you will need to replace the nut anyway ) Finally - clean up the thread with a die ...

Cheers, Bantum ...

I'd go with what bantum has said with penetrate and clean the threads as much as possible. I also use a spanner that only has 6 sides, as these reduce the chances of rounding out bolts and nuts. I just replaced mine in the yellow MY wagon and found what a difference to the handling. I used the red nolathane ones.

+1 to soaking in Penetrene & using a 6 sided socket or spanner...they grip the nut better

Thanks for the suggestion I will give it a go! Are 6 sided spanners easy enough to come by, the popular auto stores carry them?

believe it or not, Bunnings isnt too bad on price for sockets! Any auto or tool place will have em. I think its Sidchrome or poss Kinchrome have special non-slip sockets that have little grooves in the face to help grip rounded nuts. Brilliant idea but I think they only come in sets