Nut Splitter worth buying for one job?

Mar 05, 2010 28 Replies

First reply

Peter Andrews

Well for £9.50 I would buy a set (assuming they work, never tried) and keep them in the toolbox. I've several tools that I've only used a couple of times in the past forty years but they have been worth their weight in gold when needed... and you can make a lot of friends very…

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Got to change the ARB drop links on my Pug 306. They're so worn I can move them by hand while on the car..



The nuts at both ends are totally knackered. They just spin, and there's nothing on the other end to get a grip to stop them turning.



Is it worth buying one of those nut splitters that you just tighten like a blade...



Or should I just get the grinder on them?



Mike P


Well for £9.50

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I would buy a set (assuming they work, never tried) and keep them in the toolbox. I've several tools that I've only used a couple of times in the past forty years but they have been worth their weight in gold when needed... and you can make a lot of friends very grateful if you are willing to occasionally lend them! Peter

Get the grinder to it if you can get in. End result is a knackered nut no matter what approach.

That was my thinking too, however I need them for tomorrow morning, and the nearest store to me is 60 miles away...

Halfords do one. It's too small, it's only one in the set and it's =A312.50..

Mike P

306. They're so worn I can

I can get the grinder in just about. Knackered nuts no issue as the replacement DLs have new nuts on them..

thanks all

Mike P

Buy a dremel type tool, their small sized discs slice through nuts like knife thro butter, with minimal sparks.

In message , Mike P writes

I assume that the studs don't have a socket for an allen key to prevent it spinning when you undo the nut? I know most Fords have this.

Can you get a jack under the ball joint? Forcing it back in place can stop the taper turning. Or Mole grips?

Personally I prefer the nut splitter, no sparks & if you hit yourself in the chin with it you don't have to grow a beard and use Sensodyne 3 times a day for the rest of your life

Personally, angry grinder with a 1mm-0.8mm cutting disk, it'll be the work of seconds...

Paul Giverin gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

They may well have had once - but if the nuts are that mullered, the chances of the hex being usable are small. Always assuming they weren't replaced with cheap pattern ones last time.

I've got no problem with buying the right tool for the job - but for this job, especially given Mike's time constraints and the relative hassle- factors of using a nut splitter versus firing up Mr Sparky, I'd be reaching for the goggles and scaring next door's cat. After all, it's not as if you need to save the thread for anything.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:49:11 +0000, Paul Giverin sang, in the style of Bill Bailey:

Unfortunately not. It appears the PO replaced them with cheapy nasty plastic pattern drop links, and the fixings are totally shagged out.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:11:22 +0000, Adrian sang, in the style of Bill Bailey:

That looks like the best option at the moment. I've found a little tool place on the A4 that does a two-part nut splitter kit for £14 quid, so I might treat myself anyway.

They have two...

Wonders ..... should I cross-post this to uk.d-i-y?

Yes - any discussion of angle grinders is on-topic there.

On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:23:47 +0000, Steve Walker sang, in the style of Bill Bailey:

Job done. Angry grinder it was. Not quite the work of seconds due to the limited space. Couple of minutes max...

thanks all

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Now would be a good time to shop around for a set of nut splitters since you know you'll need them some time in the future.

Cic.

On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:00:16 +0000, Cicero sang, in the style of Bill Bailey:

Picked one up from the local tool shop on my way home this evening. £13.50 for a 2 piece Sealey set.

Now, if only caliper bolts could be split or ground off, I'd be a happy chap.

I don't remember ever coming across a caliper bolt that was seriously stuck. Mind you, right from the start I bought good quality single hex impact sockets which is the usual tool needed for caliper bolts.

On Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:08:11 +0000, Mrcheerful sang, in the style of Bill Bailey:

Yes, I think I'll treat myself to an impact wrench and a decent set. My ex gave away most of my decent tools years ago when we split, so I've been building up a collection again as and when I need them..

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