How do these come off?

How do these come off?

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996TT02

Original Poster:

3,308 posts

139 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Clamps/supports for a/c refrigerant lines under body.

The central screw (?) is made of plastic and while it has a hex hole in it, using an allen key is useless it just rotates within. Does the "screw" lever out?

Thanks in advance...

chriscoates81

482 posts

131 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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Looking at that picture, I'd say there is a csk self rapper that screws into the plastic shaft.

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,308 posts

139 months

Friday 28th August 2015
quotequote all
No, but you may have helped all the same. I am thinking that perhaps the bodyshell has those s/t type studs attached to it similar to those that retain the underside covers via a plastic nut and the middle "screw" is nothing but a fancy nut. And the one I tried is somewhat tight to release. Well that's my hope anyway. If the stud is fine threaded and there is a metal insert in the "screw" (nut), then removing will possibly need to be destructive.

Demort

76 posts

111 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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The allen key should ( in theory ) unscrew , theres a threaded stud from the bodywork that it screws into.
I normally use a trim tool to lever them off , as long as you lever it straight and dont bend it then the stud wont break.

Try turning it as you lever it.

Edited by Demort on Friday 28th August 19:19

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,308 posts

139 months

Friday 28th August 2015
quotequote all
Demort said:
The allen key should ( in theory ) unscrew , theres a threaded stud from the bodywork that it screws into.
I normally use a trim tool to lever them off , as long as you lever it straight and dont bend it then the stud wont break.

Try turning it as you lever it.

Edited by Demort on Friday 28th August 19:19
Many thanks for this Demort. Is it a self tapping (fast thread) type or a fine bolt type thread, what am I to expect? Is the "screw" 100% plastic or (if the stud thread is fine) is there a metal insert?

Thanks a zillion.

My problem is a leak at one refrigerant union, oddly the union that seemed to be in bad shape and I struggled to separate, is fine, the larger one which looked very pretty, is still leaking despite an o-ring change.

Demort

76 posts

111 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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The Allen key is made of plastic only , there is no insert in it.
The thread on all porsches is a course thread.
Im assumeing you have a leak at the two rear a/c pipes on a 996 , if you have got them undone without stripping the thread then you have already done the hard part !
I have unfortunatly broken many of them in the past trying to get them undone and its not a cheap job to replace thoose pipes.

Btw its not the end of the world if the stud does break , bodyshops can weld a replacement with a type of weld gun.
Opps i didnt read you still have a leak , the seal should be a proper a/c seal and the surfaces have got to be totally clean , if it leaks after that then i suspect the pipe is pourous , i would consider changing the pipe from front to rear as a diy job , its not too hard , the pipe that goes over the engine is a little more complcated but could be done at home , ill happily talk you through it if it comes to pipe changing.

Edited by Demort on Saturday 29th August 18:04


Edited by Demort on Saturday 29th August 18:17

996TT02

Original Poster:

3,308 posts

139 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Hi Demort thanks once again, well beyond the call of duty.

I will grasp the screw with a pair of mole grips to assist in removal.

Yes removing one Allen bolt to separate one coupling required interesting measures, but it came off in the end.

Oddly that one has sealed well, the other one where everything looked fine is leaking. The main pain is paying for a regas every time but my (now very well acquainted) a/c tech may be a bit understanding, I called him up the day after, as soon as the leak was evident, and he intimated as much.

With any luck the pipe is fine, doing many things on these cars is a pain what with everything tightly packaged, and so many steel/ally connectors practically welded together.

Demort

76 posts

111 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Good luck and feel free to pm me if you have any questions smile