ra23 castor rods

[stradlater]

I've done my cross member conversion and I now need to adjust my castor rods.

I've tried to get the bolts undone with significant force on an adjustable wrench, but I just can't get them to budge.

I've done the usual of lots of wd40 and a bit of a tap, but still they don't come undone.

What's the trick?

[RAd28]

you refering to the 2 bolts at the front end of the rod?? from memory we didn't have any real difficulty getting mine undone, don't think there's any trick... just go the tried and tested route.. single hex socket on a good sized breaker bar..

[The Real Roadrunner]

or 2 22mm (7/8") ring spanners and pull like all f#*k.

[stradlater]

I think the later is the only option as I can't get a socket on to it.

[twentyEight]

Don't bother adjusting your castor until your car is running, and have them adjust it when you get a wheel alignment done... (Because you're going to need one!)

[timbosaurus]

Strad,

When I took my car into a canberra joint to get a wheel alignment, they:

- put it on the hoist, and dented the sills,
- Told me that the chassis must be bent (definately isn't), so therefore they could only adjust the camber "the best they could".
- completely butchered the adjustable links with a pipe wrench between the tie rods and idler arm trying to adjust the toe.
- and told me that these bolts (the ones you speak of) were too tight and must be rusted up, so they couldn't adjust the castor.

I was pretty pissed off at this stage, so when home and used a bit of WD, a wire brush to get some paint of the thread and went and bought a quality 22mm ring spanner. Then just lay on the ground and used my foot on the spanner, and they actually came off reasonably easily.

Just remember, if you are planning on removing the complete castor rod for any reason, make sure you loosen the nuts at the back while it is still attached to the control arm. As soon as it's off the car, it's a pain to try and hold the rod in the vice.

I guess, to finish my story , I will always make sure all adjustable bits are easy as fuck to adjust, and lubed up BEFORE i take it to a shop. Some places take little care and no responsibility for excessive force required to quickly adjust things.

Cheers,
Timbo

P.S. I've now got a nice, quality, 22mm ring spanner that I spen a pretty penny on if you need to borrow one

[stradlater]

Cheers Timbo, I do need to borrow one. :-)

However.

My castor rods are no longer connected to the LCA because I had to take them out to get the thing back connected to the cross member.

Therefore, I HAVE to get it undone before I can put the front end back together properly.

Might have to visit you for this spanner. :-)

[Hen]

I've got a serious 22mm ring spanner. Living out in Rosy now, and will be round for the next couple of days. Give me a call if you want to borrow it.

I could probably even drop it off on the way to work if you say... fed me and let me drink all your beer some time... well, come to think of it...

[twentyEight]

Strad, how come you needed to remove them to reconnect the crossmember?

I'll pop over this arvo, reconnect the castor rods to the LCAs, then put the LCAs back into the crossmember for you... Just like I did with mine...

[Stefan]

Answer: replace with T3 AE86 items (if compatible with A2; they are direct bolt in to your later A6 cousin).

[stradlater]

Hen: Might just take you up on that one. :--) I'll have to buy some beer though. :-)

Simon: I couldn't put my LCA's back in place to the base of the cross member without removing the castor rods. It was simply impossible. I would imagine that my alignment setup is slightly differnt to yours and the cross member is slightly further back.
You can come around and try and undo the bolts for me if you like. :-)

Stefan: What's this your talking about? Sounds useful/interesting, I just don't entirely follow.

[gianttomato]

Pretty sure I have some big ass ring spanners at home. Call me tonight, then I can answer the other questions you texted me and can't remember!

[stradlater]

Ah, so you did get those texts... :-)

I probably won't call you tonight as I'm going out for dinner (being my birthday and all) but I'll call you tomorrow!

Do you have some big arms to go with the big spanners so I can get these suckers un-done?

[Stefan]

Stefan: What's this your talking about? Sounds useful/interesting, I just don't entirely follow.

OK, here's a pic:


What I'm saying is, if you're really having trouble with the stock castor rods, you could replace them with rose-jointed aftermarket items. The Techno Toy Tuning (T3) AE86 ones are a direct swap into A6 Celica, and A2s have more in common with AE86 than A6s do, so there is a chance that they bolt into A2 as well.

Sorry I didn't word this too well the 1st time

[gianttomato]

No, remember, you have the arms that look like you can probably bench my weight and then some.....

But I do have a big fuck off piece of water pipe that does the job.

PS: happy birthday you big bastard!!