BahaRon's Links

[JerryB]

Hi Folks,

Last year I installed BajaRon's Sway Bar ( 2008 GS ) and at that time he said that I did not need the Billet Aluminum Links that he sells.

Then he changed his mind & now recommends that the links be changed no matter what year, model, etc.

So I ordered a set & installed them today.

In his instructions he says: 1. (Not required but helpful) Remove the Lower Plastic Air Deflector - Diagram #2 (#55) by removing the (4) Screws (#8) which attach it to the Lower A-Arm . . .

After working for a while on the first one, you quickly realize that removing these four screws on each Lower Plastic Air Deflector gives you a lot more room and better access to the nuts & bolts holding the links. I have a fair supply of metric tools & got out my 8 mm open/box end wrench. After taking the first deflector off, rather slowly I thought that there might be another, better tool in my tool box.

I have a set of SAE nut drivers. Well, a 5/16" nut driver fits those 8 mm screws almost perfectly. So if you ever get stuck trying to locate a 8 mm nut driver, just get out your 5/16" one and go to work.
Now I suppose all of you shade tree mechanics already know this.

Jerry Baumchen

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for reminding everyone of this "Oddity" in the S.A.E./Metric world...
For the Record:
5/16" equals .3125"
8mm equals .31496"

The difference of .00246" is well within whatever crud and rust is accumulated within your sockets anyway.

1 mm equals .039370"

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I AM PRETTY SURE the lug nuts are really 21mm, however 13/16 SAE fits ( don't ask how I know this )........Seth-o knows .....Mike

[AeroPilot]

I AM PRETTY SURE the lug nuts are really 21mm, however 13/16 SAE fits ( don't ask how I know this )........Seth-o knows .....Mike

For the various times that removing front wheels comes in handy, the 13/16th worked fine and then I used it to torque the lugs back when finished. Had the local tire store switch tires and balance at 9,000 miles to even out the outside wear pattern. Looks like we should get another 10,000 miles out of the OEM Kendas on the front now (fingers crossed).

[HIspyder]

Thanks for reminding everyone of this "Oddity" in the S.A.E./Metric world...
For the Record:
5/16" equals .3125"
8mm equals .31496"

The difference of .00246" is well within whatever crud and rust is accumulated within your sockets anyway.

1 mm equals .039370"

In a pinch, there are quite a few close fits.

http://www.sosmath.com/tables/sae/sae.html

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wr...on-d_1607.html