Cheers for all the excellent advice chaps

I removed 3 of the 4 front axle bolts. the front near side one was pretty stuck and time was short so I left it in place. The other three all came out well, the off side ones in particular i loosened off then removed by hand.

I cleaned them up with white spirit and a wire brush and let them dry off before coating them wtih duckhams and re-fitting them.

I tightened them all to 36lbs/ft.

I've also peened the locking washer over.

Took her for a drive and its so much better. There is still a rattle felt through the steering but at least ive eliminated the axle bolts being the issue.

I also used the opportunity to lower the front suspension a little which gives much improved handling.

Thanks again

maybe a stupid question, i should jack the car up? going to try and do them on sunday, incidently, if i had a problem with any of them (shearing etc) or 1 sheared, would i get away with driving? are those bolts only availble at ecas (ie if i had to could i get them at frauds or something)
thanks

Why are you doing them? Is there actually a problem or are you simply trying to create one? In all my years of driving 2CVs I've very rarely found it necessary to mess around with the axle bolts.
But since you ask, no you certainly shouldn't drive with one axle bolt sheared.

they are a Citroen specific item and you may get M10 bolts that fit but its unlikley that they will be as strong, and most certainly wont be waisted( not to be confused with stretched )which goes some way to stop them shearing and helps with the alignment etc

as with much of the 2cv the eingineering shines through

if you break one yer f**ked till you get the remains out and a replacement in

but Im with RT your creating problems for yourself thats the trouble with forums... its automotive hypochodria
Sean

i have hurrendous clunking going round corners, as mentioned before, on another topic, however its not as bad (i only noticed this evening when driving) so i may leave it for now until it becomes a problem again,
i dont try to create problems to fix , it was a problem, doesnt seem to be after this afternoons drive...

You should always prepare for jobs in advance James. There is nothing worse than breaking something critical and not having the part to hand. After re-chassing a car last week I can tell you that the axle bolts car be very difficult to remove. We had to grind one away then remove the stub from the axle.

Yer thought about buying 8 and if i dont use then then never mind, have thought about preperation dont worry

If it's not broken, don't fix it, surely?

If there is a problem with your steering, there are plenty of things it's more likely to be than an axle bolt. Try kingpins first, then the track rod ends (yes yes yes, I know there's no such thing, strictly speaking ). But don't mess about with the "adjustment" on the track rod ends, they're not adjustable as such.

Had a duff kingpin. Replaced not much better.