The part of my SC I hate the most right now

[grahamkissack]

Getting ready to remove A arms for new bushings....guess what won't come off despite my pounding the crap out of it despite weeks on PB application (ps JWalker was right!)?





Many have talked about using a pipe wrench / extension on the nut on the ball joint but I only see about 1/8" of width to grab the nut....any pics on how to do that? where do you grab with pipe wrench?

[uwanna]

As I posted to your previous thread: A Arm removal - easier to remove top or bottom of ball joint?

You have run into precisely the problem I had with my '80SC. To remove the ball joints, you'll need an at least 18' pipe wrench with some pretty sharp teeth. I know there is only about an 1/8in to work with on the nut, but pull the cotter pin out, remove the "disc", and get as good a grip as you can with the wrench. Believe me, it can be done. To get the wedge pins out of your struts, I would suggest you remove the struts after you get the balljoints loose. Put them in a vise or something solid and use a large punch or drift and beat the pins like hell. Hopefully they will turn loose! Next problem, your balljoint shaft will be stuck in the strut. You'll need a suspension "pickle fork" to separate them.
My job that I thought would take a couple of hours became an all day affair, due to those damned wedge pins! Good luck!
Grant

[grahamkissack]

Originally Posted by uwanna

As I posted to your previous thread: A Arm removal - easier to remove top or bottom of ball joint?

You have run into precisely the problem I had with my '80SC. To remove the ball joints, you'll need an at least 18' pipe wrench with some pretty sharp teeth. I know there is only about an 1/8in to work with on the nut, but pull the cotter pin out, remove the "disc", and get as good a grip as you can with the wrench. Believe me, it can be done. To get the wedge pins out of your struts, I would suggest you remove the struts after you get the balljoints loose. Put them in a vise or something solid and use a large punch or drift and beat the pins like hell. Hopefully they will turn loose! Next problem, your balljoint shaft will be stuck in the strut. You'll need a suspension "pickle fork" to separate them.
My job that I thought would take a couple of hours became an all day affair, due to those damned wedge pins! Good luck!
Grant

Thanks uwanna...so when the pipe wrench is in contact and starting to turn the nut...should it be facing directly out from the wheel well? ie at 90 degrees to the car or should it be paralle to the car...just confused on the best angle to grab it at??

[don gilbert]

Take a dull chisel and hammer and wack them loose once the safty retainer is off. You are going to mess them up with a pipe wrench any way, but they can be reused a few times either way you do it. There is a special spanner wrench to take off the ball joint nut. I think the nuts are around 20 bucks apiece.

[SP2]

If it's the wedge pin you can't get out, back the nut off a few mm, then hit it to force the wedge pin out the other side.

[crashmy911]

Do what SP2 said to do. It worked for me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brads911sc]

I used an air hammer on the nut. also use heat to melt the loctite... came right off...

[KNS]

On the driver's side neither would budge on mine either. I tried the pipe wrench, the hammer and chisel - nothing! I finally cut it off with a Dremmel - five minutes. Why did I waste so much time on the other methods. On my wedge pin, It would not come out. Finally bought a very nice dead-blow hammer (with punch) and pounded on it.
Strangely, the pass side came apart easily.

[tvanbroekhoven]

Castle nut -> Dremel
Wedge Pin -> BFH

When I was doing this job I also lubricated myself with some beer on a regular basis to minimize the wear on my nerves