Front shock absorber bolts

[leafie]

Could anybody tell me the size of socket I need for the 4 front shock absorber bolts, need to buy one tomorrow as none of mine fit.
Thanks,

[beero]

5/16BS 1/4 Whitworth

[leafie]

5/16BS 1/4 Whitworth

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

There are many Whitworth fittings on a Minor chassis (and NO metric) - so a good set of ring/open ended spanners and a few sockets are pretty much essential!

[rayofleamington]

There are many Whitworth fittings on a Minor chassis (and NO metric).

Nearly all the nuts/bolts to the shell are 5/16 BS (=1/4 Whitworth)

Around the rest of the car, the hex size depends on age and component.
e.g.
Series MM have metric on the engine but practically everything else Whitworth.
Series II have mostly Whitworth and AF on certain components.
Minor 1000 is a mix of mostly imperial (AF) but still Whitworth on the body and some BA on very small sizes (and probably some Metric depending on anyone who replaced nuts & bolts recently)

As for metric, 11mm, 15mm and 18mm can be used on a Minor 1000 as they have a non-metric equivalent, but avoid the rest.

11mm is nearly identical to 7/16th AF. However a high quality 11mm spanner can be far better to use than a cheap bargain basement AF spanner!

[leafie]

Found a rusty 1/4 w socket in an tool box at the back of my shed,the tool box and socket are 31 years old, I know that sad fact because my wife bought me them the first year we were married. Did the job apart from the bottom right bolt against the inner wing which a previous owner had kindly rounded off. Got it out with a smaller socket forced on.

[bmcecosse]

Well done -now treat it to a new bolt.......

[Trickydicky]

And some fresh oil in the dampers SAE30 or SAE40

[bmcecosse]

Even better - SAE 50.......

[leafie]

And some fresh oil in the dampers SAE30 or SAE40

Got refurbished dampers and new bolts, the reason for removing was a leak on the nearside.

[bmcecosse]

Ah yes... Try them as they come then to make sure they are not leaking. I would then change the oil - but it's up to you what you do with them!! I do suggest you install them - and then after 100 miles or so - retorque the fixing bolts and then flip the lock tabs over.