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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 273
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help with wedge bolts
Thought I would save the $400 my mechanic wants to replace the ball joints on my SC.
I've this before to replace a strut, but the but the wedge bolts won't come out! I've tried penetrating oil, a hammer, even heated it with a torch. I tried to press it out with a big c-clamp, but I can't get it out! I have competely destroyed one with a hammer. Any ideas?
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Mark H Class Race Car Project Old flames: 1999 C2 Race Car #78; 1983 SC Race Car; #78; 1990 C2; 1978 SC Race Car #78; 1988 Carrera; 1977 911S |
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05-31-2004, 03:59 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,950
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Corrosion is the factor likely. Plan on buying new ones anyway, so don't worry about mangling the old ones. Be carefull to avoid dinging up the strut and wale away. Heating is good also.
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05-31-2004, 04:12 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 254
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I had the same problems on my '73 911. Carefully center punch the center of the rear (ie the end of the wedge bolt without the threads) of the wedge bolt .Starting with a 3/16 inch twist drill, start drilling to a depth of about an inch and a quarter or so. Then gradually increase the size of the twist drill up to about 3/8ths (check the OD of the new wedge pin to make sure that 3/8ths is smaller than the actual wedge pin.). After every drilling, give the wedge pin (from the threaded end) a couple of good swats with a 22 oz hammer. It is probably impossible to lay under the car and get the drillled hole accurately on center so that is why I recommend starting small and working your way up. You don't want to drill into the strut so check your alignment periodically. Sooner or later the wedge pin will pop out. BTW, on the opposite side my wedge pin popped out with only a small tap - hopefully you'll be lucky. Also, make sure you use the factory tool to remove and replace the castellated nut on the bottom of the ball joint. Even after soaking mine in Kroil it took an impact wrench to get it loose. A little Never Sieze on the wedge pin and castellated nut should help if you ever have to do the job again. Just remeber to use new lock nuts on the wedge pin and a new cotter pin on the catellated nut to keep eerything in place after you've torqued them to spec.
Jim |
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05-31-2004, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: so cal
Posts: 569
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I used a brass rod and beat the pi$$ out of it
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05-31-2004, 04:14 PM
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Licensed User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ....down Highway 61
Posts: 6,506
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I bent a couple of punches and smashed my fingers before I grabbed the 2lb sledge and whacked the **** out of it.
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05-31-2004, 04:30 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 9,105
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Like 89911 said, just get new ones. I found the bolts were pretty soft, and when you tried to use a punch & hammer to knock them out, the threaded end deformed. A good shot of heat might help before you "whack the ****" out of them.
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Marv Evans '69 911E |
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05-31-2004, 06:16 PM
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