Caterham track rod end nyloc nuts
Discussion
I need new nyloc nuts for the track rod ends on a 2001 Caterham Roadsport (removed them to allow replacement of worn steering rack gaiters.)
Neither the 7/16", nor the M10 supplied as a possible alternative, I was sold in good faith, would fit. M10 are way too big.
When I called Parts to ask about this, they were aware that some of the track rod ends were supplied with an unusual size thread (including something to do with the pitch they thought). However, they do not stock them, nor do they know what size is required!
The original kit was supplied in 2001, so the TRE's would come from around then too.
The build manual describes them as ' 9/16inch nyloc' - though this is the size of the spanner (i.e. 9/16" across the flats, so does not give detail on the thread.
If anyone out ther knows what size of Nyloc I need, I would be very grateful.
Regards
Neither the 7/16", nor the M10 supplied as a possible alternative, I was sold in good faith, would fit. M10 are way too big.
When I called Parts to ask about this, they were aware that some of the track rod ends were supplied with an unusual size thread (including something to do with the pitch they thought). However, they do not stock them, nor do they know what size is required!
The original kit was supplied in 2001, so the TRE's would come from around then too.
The build manual describes them as ' 9/16inch nyloc' - though this is the size of the spanner (i.e. 9/16" across the flats, so does not give detail on the thread.
If anyone out ther knows what size of Nyloc I need, I would be very grateful.
Regards
No-one anywhere near you with a vernier caliper and a thread gauge, I take it? (Not trying to sound snarky, by the way, but it's easy enough to measure).
7/16" (UNF presumably) is a little above 11mm (7/16 x 25.4) so you'd imagine that the M10 would be too small if 7/16" was correct.
A 9/16" spanner is often used on a 3/8" thread, presumably UNF on a track rod end, but I know from experience that some suspension nuts are "thicker" than usual, whether that's for additional strength or to ensure that the nut uses a different spanner than the bolt head, I've never been able to confirm. It's unusual to describe an AF fastener by the size of the outside of the hex flats - that was more commonplace on Whitworth spanners as I understand it. If you buy a 9/16" UNF nut, you'll get one with a thread based on 9/16" diameter of the "high" point of the thread, just like when you buy an M10, it's the size of the hole, not the size of the spanner.
Imperial threads are usually UNF (fine) or UNC (coarse), and the number of teeth per inch will vary depending on the diameter of the fastener. Metric threads tend to be specified by the pitch (distance between thread "peaks") rather than number of teeth per inch, but there's "metric", "metric fine" and probably others.
3/8" equates to about 9.5mm, so again I'm not sure whether your 10mm "alternative" counts as far too big if it's only by 0.5mm. But for a critical part like that, I wouldn't want to be going with "it'll do".
7/16" (UNF presumably) is a little above 11mm (7/16 x 25.4) so you'd imagine that the M10 would be too small if 7/16" was correct.
A 9/16" spanner is often used on a 3/8" thread, presumably UNF on a track rod end, but I know from experience that some suspension nuts are "thicker" than usual, whether that's for additional strength or to ensure that the nut uses a different spanner than the bolt head, I've never been able to confirm. It's unusual to describe an AF fastener by the size of the outside of the hex flats - that was more commonplace on Whitworth spanners as I understand it. If you buy a 9/16" UNF nut, you'll get one with a thread based on 9/16" diameter of the "high" point of the thread, just like when you buy an M10, it's the size of the hole, not the size of the spanner.
Imperial threads are usually UNF (fine) or UNC (coarse), and the number of teeth per inch will vary depending on the diameter of the fastener. Metric threads tend to be specified by the pitch (distance between thread "peaks") rather than number of teeth per inch, but there's "metric", "metric fine" and probably others.
3/8" equates to about 9.5mm, so again I'm not sure whether your 10mm "alternative" counts as far too big if it's only by 0.5mm. But for a critical part like that, I wouldn't want to be going with "it'll do".
Edited by droopsnoot on Friday 31st May 18:28
Edited by droopsnoot on Friday 31st May 18:31
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