My nut got stripped

kingston · Post by **kingston** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:51 am

Starting on my first full engine rebuild on a 93 Legacy Sport Wagon. Loosened up the bolts and nuts except for the bottom driver side one. I tried with a wrench which i think stripped the nut. Removed the axle and tried it again but i think i screwed up the nut too much.

I tried a stripped bolt/nut remover from Sears which grabbed it but that eventually stripped it down more.

Any one have suggestions on how to get that nut off? I'm thinking I may just need to pull the motor and tranny out together which I really don't want to do.

I'm also thinking to pull the steering rack off (it needs some servicing anyway) so the steering column will be out of the way and maybe be able to get a pair of vise grips in there.

THanks for your help guys

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:54 am

Yeah, that's what I'd try, a pair of vice grips. That or try cutting it off.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:37 am

I'm surprised you haven't had luck with the nut extractors. The Irwin set I have goes down in size so closely that if one doesn't fit the next size down will. Paired with that and some PB blaster I've gotten many rusted nuts loose.

You could always just drop the entire drivetrain from under the car.

Seems like a lot of extra work for one stupid nut. Have access to a torch?

kingston · Post by **kingston** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:52 am

i have a torch but that nut is a goner. I tried going down a size on the nut extractor but it wouldn't fit.

fishbone79 · Post by **fishbone79** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:34 pm

Do you have access to a welder? I'd zap another nut right on top of it, thats how I had to get my old tranny/motor separated. I think the heat helped allot too. Either that, or grind the bastard off and replace the stud afterward.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:00 pm

I'll also recommend cutting it off. Even a Dremel with a cutoff wheel could split the nut in two.

Once you cut the nut off the engine will be able to slide off just as it would with the nut removed.

A new stud is part number 800910470.

kingston · Post by **kingston** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:58 am

OK so I was trying to do all this without removal the axle. Guess that's not going to happen. I got a proper craftsman nut extractor but i just keep shaving the nut off little by little. Gonna have to create space and chop that off.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:44 pm

Removing the axle isn't that big a deal. You don't need to fully remove it so you can leave the axle nut in the hub. Just drive out the spring pin on the transmission end of the axle and then take your pick of what to loosen at the hub end -- I like removing the camber bolt (after marking its position of course).

kingston · Post by **kingston** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:25 pm

Hmm...really. I took out both bolts from the strut and that thing still won't come out. It needs like an inch or so before it clears the tranny.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:33 pm

Hm, don't know what to tell you... that's how I always remove Subaru axles. I loosen the lower bolt and remove the upper bolt and then grab the brake rotor and tilt the top outboard and it pulls the axle right off the stub on the transmission with plenty of room. It definitely moves more than an inch.

If somehow that's not working for you, you may have to undo the ball joint or something (the "right" way to remove the axle). Or maybe your axle is seized to the transmission? Is it moving aloing its axis at all?

Dumb question -- you removed the spring pin, right? And are pulling the hub as far outboard as the ball joint and strut permit?

kingston · Post by **kingston** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:37 pm

the axle is out disconnected from the tranny. but it just doesn't have enough clearance to get out of the hole. Hmm...wonder if that makes sense.

On a side note, Are you still updating your OBD scanner? I got a bit confused on some of the wiring diagrams on the old site. The pin outs on the pictures didn't match the pin out #'s on the connectors I have.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:50 pm

You mean you can slide it along the splines but not pull it off far enough to free it from the splines?

Just give the hub a yank outwards. I think maybe it's harder with both strut bolts removed because then the weight of the hub and rotor aren't on your side the way they are if you leave the bottom one in.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:51 pm

Oh, and it's been a while since any updates on the scan tools...

It may be a dumb question, but are you looking at the connector from the correct direction?

kingston · Post by **kingston** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:55 pm

i think i am but who knows. I never liked doing pin outs =T

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My nut got stripped

My nut got stripped