Stiff Turnbuckles

butters86 · #1 17-06-2015

The turnbuckles which came with my SCT kit are very stiff so you have to take them off the car to adjust them... Getting blisters on the inside of your index finger from twisting the plastic ball end.

I have some stainless ones on my mad rat but they are too short to transfer over. Before I go out and buy 6 turnbuckles and 12 ball ends, does anyone have any tips for stiff turn buckles? Tried a bit of grease but hasnt seemed to help.

Or even just adjustment tips - to avoid more pain. I don't want to use pliers to grip ball ends as they'll get tatty

mattr · #2 17-06-2015

I just run mine all the way in and then out a couple of times and add a bit of dry lube. (Using graphite lock lube at the moment)

butters86 · #3 17-06-2015

Great will give that a go, sounds simple but effective, I hadn't thought of that.

andrewc · #4 18-06-2015

If you haven't got the proper lube just use a chapstick with vaseline in, or just vaseline. I put the turnbuckle in a drill to spin it in and out a few times, saves fingers.

mattr · #5 18-06-2015

I've actually got a pair of M3 taps on my wish list, a normal and a reverse thread for just this, but as i've not been driving much over the last year/18 months i've not bothered ordering........

butters86 · #6 18-06-2015

Nice tips guys! Wondered about trying electric drill on turnbuckle before. Would be a good way to break them in.