A-arms

[Ackattack]

I have my front suspension all torn apart and I'm in the process of cleaning/sandblasting them before I powder coat them. The question is, how do I get the shafts out of the a-arms? Do you just unscrew the caps? I've tried this, and tried this, and these caps won't budge.

Any suggestions/techniques to get these out?

Thanks

[rustyold72]

Well those caps are torqued on there, I've heard use a torch to heat them up, long breaker bar, big impact wrench.
I'll be following this thread, as I'm about to be in the same situation, and want to see what everyone else comes up with

[powell72]

rustyold72 is correct, thats probably one of the easiest ways I've found.

[Tynee]

Recently replaced those bushings myself. Big socket+breaker bar+cheater pipe+my fat 360lb butt+3 bloody knuckles=finally broke loose. Never did figure a way to get those lower ball joints out, though.

edit: Oh yeah, forgot the penetrating oil in above equation

[mac]

Yep -- they're torqued , not to mention rusted as hell in there. I put mine in a BIG vise and shot them with some penetrating oil and heat on and off for a day. Once the oil worked its way in then the socket and breaker bar technique worked. My caps were so bad they needed to be replaced and cost @ $10 each from GM parts. One had been X-threaded too but fortunately the A-arm wasn't wrecked.

[bigcdawg99]

I had the same problem. I'm inpatient and didn't want to use an entire Saturday trying to take of the damn ball joints and studds. Took all 4 a-arms to a local garage. They charged me 20 bucks and had them done in about 45 minutes. Then I rented a ball joint press from Autozone (free with deposit). Done deal. I figure why fight little stuff like that. The garage has the tools and they've probably done it many times. My .02

[Ackattack]

Looks like I'll just have to use some muscle and get them out.

The upper ball joint was easy to get out (since I replaced it a few years ago when I installed the drop spindles) The lower one came out with a help from my little 5 lb friend

[Joe67]

I replaced my caps with the front end rebuild kit from PST

[dallas71]

Tynee,

2 options on removing lower ball joints....

1 press them out with a tool rented from Autozone or 2 Angle the protuding piece of the ball joint towards the engine compartment and hit the edge of the balljoint with a BFH and pop it will come right out...

If the problem is getting the ball joint out of the spindle, there is no easy way...If they have been replaced before loosen the nut and hit the lower spindle on the bottom and "pop" the ball joint shoul break loose, if not the fun begins!!! I had to beat mine out (once removed from the upper ball joint) with a BFH and a grinding wheel NOT FUN!!!! Good Luck....

[mac]

The way I split the joint from the spindle was an air hammer on the nut. Thread the nut on far enough that the end of the ball joint and nut are even and let the air do the work. The lower ball pressed out of the arm and back in at the local 4wd shop both sides $30. I put my lowered spindles back on the new ball joints with a small swipe of anti-seize. I've had them on and off a couple of times as I installed lowered springs and then bags and they come apart with a plastic mallet and one whack.

[powell72]

Sometimes I forget how spoiled I am being a mechanic and having a fully stocked hobby shop after hours to work in!

[67chevemall]

Was going to keep all the parts from my front end as they are all new on my parts truck, BUT man it seems like alot fn work. Big tools, torches, BFH's....... oh man makes
me tired thinking about it.

[Ackattack]

well I finally got them off.

I had to go out and buy a 15" crescent wrench to get it done along with my 5 lb hammer, but I got 'er done

[Palf70Step]

Congrats. Some of the chores on these toys/vehicvles of ours can be a REAL PAIN.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

well I finally got them off.

I had to go out and buy a 15" crescent wrench to get it done along with my 5 lb hammer, but I got 'er done

My dad (the SOB) taught me to always use the right tool for the job...

[MOTHERTRUCKERS]

If you think disassembly is tough, if the powdercoater screws up reassembly will take days.

[COBALT]

I had a 3/4" breaker bar, and an over-sized socket for both sizes. I put the a-arm in a vice without tightening it (just to hold it in place), shot the joint with enough kroil to loosen the Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic, and pulled with all of my might. Three hernias later It would come loose. I did all eight like that.

Yuck. Make sure you torque down the new ones properly.

[roj2323]

i don't know why everyone is having problems but mine came right off with an impact. the only difference may be that i used a comercial grade impact and i made sure the compresser was full. now as far as the ball joints are conserned i used a 20 ton press and a socket that was bigger than the ball joint to properly support the a-arm while i pressed it out. the first one came out with the case and the second just pushed the joint though the end of the case. i used another socket that was the same size as the case to push that one out. all in all it took me less than 30 miniutes to completely strip both lower a arms.


hope this helps,
ondrew

p.s. if your a local i would be happy to help you strip your lower a arms. just ask.

[COBALT]

It shouldn't be too hard to understand why some of us have problems with this type of thing. We don't have tools like that.

My workshop is attached to my dad's barn on a 20 acre farm, and I'm using a lot of the tools my grandfather used to work on cars and lawn mowers in the 50's after WWII. I'm working with old farmer's tools. The only specialty tools I have are the ones I bring with me from my house in Seattle an hour north of my dad's place.

So...I have to use the ole' brain to figure out how I'm going to break loose 1 1/8" bushings that are 35 years old and never been replaced...

It means a lot of busted knuckles, penetrating oils, and some leverage. With an impact wrench I could have saved a lot of time, but I would first have to rewire my dad's shop to even get the power for the compressor. See what I mean?

[ddsmith]

That's what friends with tools are for. Everyone has friends that have that piece of equipment they don't own. I frequently help friends out or let them borrow my equipment. The good thing is that I know the folks I lend my equipment will treat it right and if something goes wrong with it while they have it. They'll get it fixed. A visit with a little beer usually can take care of any issues. I did the cross shafts at home on a 66 C30. They are torqued even more than the half tons. The ball joints went to a shop.

[COBALT]

That's you. Most of my friends' eyes start to glaze over when I tell them I just finished replacing my points on my distributor, or had to reseal my rear-end differential.

When I told one friend of mine that I was rebuilding the front-end suspension he thought I was crazy - told me I should take it to a shop and "have them do it". Sounds like I might have the wrong friends.