Steering rack gaitor replacement and hub question

[serpen]

Hi,
1996 120 swb lowtop mk5 ex bt,
non power steering model.
Location: South Ealing, London
Recently failed mot on a few things,

1. tires odd sizes on the front (quoted £90)
2. front disks and pads exesivly pitted and worn (quoted £220)
3. nearside gaitor split (quoted £85)
4. rear exhaust leaking- replace (quoted £90)
5. no reading from one of the rear brakes (investigate to quote)

fixed the tires £15 from the dodgy car wash guy
got new disks and pads from ebay for £46
gaitors from ebay £4
rear exhaust will get for £45
spray the crap out of the rear drum with wd40 and see what happens but might leave that to them.

so today..

jacked her up today, loosened the 5 nuts around the hub, used a tx50 on the top brake disk holder
broke 2 tx40 trying to undo the bottom one, then gave up for the day.

Im planning to take the brake caliper off, remove the brake hanger then beat the disk off.
I have the haynes transit book, not that its much good describing what size tools to use on the specific jobs, but for the life of me I cannot understand what is keeping the wheels on when your driving around?

How can you slip the disk and hub off without removing the hub nut ect.. what keeps it there? the brakes?

anyway onto the gaitors

Ive got the ball joint separator tool, removed the split pin. But can anyone tell me the size of the nut? Is it best to use a ringie, a shifter or a socket with breaker bar?

At least she didnt fail on rust, which is what I was really worried about, but if I cant do the brakes, I might have to find a garage that will do the labour with my parts.

[trebor]

Hi, I've just had hand brake cable replaced on my mk5 swb and also had a badly binding o/s rear brake sorted and replacement wheel cylinder.Cost me £120 but it did take 2 hours to get one of the drums off and saved me freezing to death doing it myself. Got a set of 15 inch shoes of e-bay for £30 ,cable from motor factors for £23.Should give you an idea of cost.Bob.

[Luke]

anyway onto the gaitors

Ive got the ball joint separator tool, removed the split pin. But can anyone tell me the size of the nut? Is it best to use a ringie, a shifter or a socket with breaker bar?

i think it's a 19mm from memory a socket or spanner gets it off no probs - but i never bother with the splitter it its a fork type - all they do is split the rubber on the tre - just get a bar so your levering it down then push hard then crack the side of the hub (where it goes through) with a hammer repeatadly - it will come out - never failed yet its a bit tricky to explain but if you saw it youd see how easy it is i ought to do a video

[arthurc604]

I just replaced a gaiter on my Mk3 today - the nut was either 21mm or 22mm. I agree on the fork-type separator. It pretty much just tore the boot and squeezed out all the grease. I ended up using a clamp-style separator. I've heard the hammering tip before as well. I would suggest tapping towards the hub to avoid putting the shock through to the steering rack.

[Luke]

the nut was either 21mm or 22mm.

oh yeah your right 19mm who said that

[serpen]

I got a 21mm socket, but it was way too small, I think maybe tomorrow I might take it back and ask the hallifords guy if he can bring a few out and try them. Whilst Im there, might also return the fork separator and the busted torx keys that I bought there today too.

[Luke]

another way to do it is leave the track rod end/ball joint in place undo the steering arm going into it as you need to take that off to get the new gator on

[Luke]

and the nut you need to undo is 24mm - i'd put money on it *prepairs to be wrong

[serpen]

anyone any thoughst on the wheel?

[Luke]

anyone any thoughst on the wheel?

what do you mean? how to remove the disk?

take off wheel, undoo the 5 bolts holding the disk on (easier when calipers still on) then take off the caliper, then hit the disk back towards the van while spinning it so as not to hit it in the same place, then once its off undo the big nut in the middle that holds the hub on (remember left hand thread on the n/s??) then take the hub off fit new disk and back on - carefull not to drop a bearing - and also when you tighten the hub nut di it as tight as you can then back it off till theres a bit of play so as not to overheat the bearing - that can be adjusted once the wheels back on

hth

[serpen]

bugger that for a game of soldiers, In this weather!

Just been back to the garage, got him down from £220 supplied and fitted to me spending £46 on ebay, to £87.5 for him to fit the b*stards!

[serpen]

And the winnner is.......

Steering Rack Gaitor Replacement

You need:

24mm ring spanner from halifords £9.95
New Split pins from halifords £2.95.
New Gaitor from ebay £4.25 for 2.

Jack her up, wheel off, remove the split pin, remove the 24mm nut with the ring end of the spanner.

With the open end of the spanner on the lock nut and a shifter turning the rack end (also 24mm), crack the lock nut loose.

With 2 good, light taps of a hammer, disengage the ball joint.

Counting the amount of turns, unscrew the track rod end.

Slip the new gator on over the top of the lock nut.

Screw the track end back on. Tap it back in with the hammer, then replaced the nut, and secured it with a new split pin.

Cut away the old gator, position the new one and secured it with cable ties.

Job done!

The garage quoted me £85 to do this, if you have the tools, you can do it for $4.25!