How big are my nuts?
 

Just a quickie, and a very simple one -

Before, I rush off to Halfords after work and buy the wrong one, does anyone know for certain what socket size I need to undo the rear wheel spindle nuts on my 1998 ST2?

I've measured it roughly at 32mm, but I bet I'm wrong.

Ta,
Mike.

Yep, 32mm socket is the chap you'll need. You will notice though that the nut is not very wide, so if you're better off with a plain hex socket (not one of those multi faceted socket - whatever they're called) so that the flats of the socket fit exactly on the nut.

If you can find a socket that either has no chamfering on it's faces, or only a minimal amount, it'll fit better. Because the nut is not very wide, if you think about it, a fair percentage of the socket won't actually fit, because the chamfered face of each socket flat means it will be oversized. Basically, this means that the socket can slip off the nut more easily when you're trying to torque it up.

Maybe suggest someone who has a big lathe to turn off the bevel section to make a better fit, I'm sure there are some big boy engineers out there.
My watchmaking lathes are a bit small!

A bench grinder is a lot easier than trying to turn down hardened steel.

And a 28 for the front I think Im right in saying. As a word of warning I recentlty wrecked one of my chain adjusters after adjusting my chain, then tightening the spindle & nut, you should then use a torque wrench (ickle) to torsion the chain adjusters to 8 Nm. Following my co up I now check mine reguarly and keep a 11mm spanner in my ever expanding under seat tool kit.

Isn't it a 12mm? Could be wrong, I often am...which might be why my nuts are slack ;)

errrr could be and now Im in deepest Devon so cant just pop out and check.

Its rained here nearly solid for two days, at least it makes me feel better about coming in the car !