Front Strut from A arm.

captjm · 05-21-2001, 09:24 PM

I am having trouble trying to seperate the front strut from the A arm. The strut has been painted so I can not tell the make. There is not a thru bolt connecting the strut to the Ball joint, it looks more like a bolt stud cast int the strut, I can remove the nut, but the stud remains. The cutting torch has crossed my mind (just kidding). Whats the trick?

Jim Smolka · 05-22-2001, 04:00 AM

Not sure where you are in the disassembly process, but on the bottom of the strut, there is a multi tooth piece that has to first be removed. This is a waffer thin piece of metal held in by a cotter pin.

After the thin metal piece is removed, a large round nut with 4 indentations has to be removed. I recommend the special tool that pelican sells and an impact air wrench. Just be sure to put pressure on the impact to make sure the "special socket" does not slip off the round nut.

SteveStromberg · 05-22-2001, 06:28 AM

That is a tapered D shaped bolt.Use penetrating oil to loosen, then tap lightly on the nut after screwing it on a few threads Dont whack it hard just little taps.I had a friend with the use of only one of his arms(he was a great mechanic)who showed me how by lightly tapping you can remove frozen bolt he would just tap on them ,some times for 5 minutes but he got them free.Steve

efeinsmith · 05-22-2001, 06:37 AM

If you're looking up at the bottom of the A-arm, the threaded part is the lower threaded mount of the ball joint. After removing the flat metal plate (described above) by removing the cotter pin, you can access the retainer for the ball joint. Without the special tool, you can get it loose by using a brass drift and hitting it on the cuts (there are 4 of them on the retainer) till it comes loose. Once off, the strut will come off with the ball joint attached. To remove the ball joint from the strut, there is a threaded pin at the bottom of the strut that attaches perpendicular to the strut. This slides into a slot in the ball joint upper mount. It's exact shape will vary by year (70-72 and 73-76) but they all come out the same way. Once removed, the ball joint can be removed from the strut.

captjm · 05-22-2001, 07:58 AM

thanks for the replies folks---The problem is not removing the ball joint from the A arm. The problem is .. I guess the double taper stud at the bottom of the Strut. It appears cast into the strut. I tried liquid wrench and tapping --lightly & firmly.
I will hit it with some heat and see if I can see a break in the strut cast from the bolt.
Thanks again guys.

JP Noonan · 05-22-2001, 09:55 AM

To get the tappered nut out I used a tie-rod end puller.

The get the ball joint out of the strut housing, I removed the strut. Then looking down into the housing you'll see to top of the ball joint. I used PB Blaster and a 14" long #2 phillips screw driver as a punch. Tap on the top of the ball joint and it'll come out.