front crossmember disassembly - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kevindtimm · 05-07-2008, 04:38 PM

I just purchased a front crossmember and am disassembling it to clean and reinstall it on my '62 C10. I've used a pickle fork to remove the upper balljoint on one side and have hammered the hell out of the lower to no avail.

Any tips about getting this bugger apart?

87Bob · 05-07-2008, 10:15 PM

Did you hit the spindle on the side where the ball joint stud goes through it? Did you try a hot wrench and warm it up good?

kevindtimm · 05-07-2008, 10:28 PM

Haven't tried either, but they're at the top of my list

BTW, is propane a good enough hot wrench?

slug · 05-07-2008, 10:30 PM

i would try the hammer trick. just make sure you have the nut threaded onto the ball joint till the top of the threads are even with the end of the ball joint. that way the spring doesn't pop out and hurt anyone !!!!!

87Bob · 05-07-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slug

i would try the hammer trick. just make sure you have the nut threaded onto the ball joint till the top of the threads are even with the end of the ball joint. that way the spring doesn't pop out and hurt anyone !!!!!

87Bob · 05-07-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevindtimm

Haven't tried either, but they're at the top of my list

BTW, is propane a good enough hot wrench?

I have not tried propane but the idea would be to keep the heat localized to one side. That way the hole would essentially become slightly out of round and make that side bigger so when you hit it with a hammer it should loosen up on the taper of the ball joint stud.

kevindtimm · 05-08-2008, 04:10 PM

Grabbed the propane torch last night and not a lick of gas left

I have more bottles, but they're so well stashed it wasn't worth it to get them

I smacked the spindle HARD a few times, inserted the pickle fork and off it came!

Did the same disassembly in 30 minutes on the other side (2+ hours for the first).

Now I just have to clean it, re-bush it, new ball-joints and it will be good to go.

BTW, I was using a spring compressor, a chain through the spring and a-arm and kept the nuts attached to the ball joints throughout this procedure. Since it's sitting in the bed of my truck, I don't have any way to use the weight of the vehicle to together, uber-safety seemed a VERY wise choice.

Thanks to all for your help.

05-07-2008, 04:38 PM	#1
kevindtimm Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Allen,TX Posts: 170	front crossmember disassembly I just purchased a front crossmember and am disassembling it to clean and reinstall it on my '62 C10. I've used a pickle fork to remove the upper balljoint on one side and have hammered the hell out of the lower to no avail. Any tips about getting this bugger apart?

05-07-2008, 10:15 PM	#2
87Bob Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Franklin Indiana Posts: 635	Re: front crossmember disassembly Did you hit the spindle on the side where the ball joint stud goes through it? Did you try a hot wrench and warm it up good?

05-07-2008, 10:28 PM	#3
kevindtimm Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Allen,TX Posts: 170	Re: front crossmember disassembly Haven't tried either, but they're at the top of my list BTW, is propane a good enough hot wrench?

05-07-2008, 10:30 PM	#4
slug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Groves,TX Posts: 483	Re: front crossmember disassembly i would try the hammer trick. just make sure you have the nut threaded onto the ball joint till the top of the threads are even with the end of the ball joint. that way the spring doesn't pop out and hurt anyone !!!!! __________________ there is nothing better than cutting metal with fire.......except cutting metal with electricity!!!

05-08-2008, 04:10 PM	#7
kevindtimm Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Allen,TX Posts: 170	Re: front crossmember disassembly Grabbed the propane torch last night and not a lick of gas left I have more bottles, but they're so well stashed it wasn't worth it to get them I smacked the spindle HARD a few times, inserted the pickle fork and off it came! Did the same disassembly in 30 minutes on the other side (2+ hours for the first). Now I just have to clean it, re-bush it, new ball-joints and it will be good to go. BTW, I was using a spring compressor, a chain through the spring and a-arm and kept the nuts attached to the ball joints throughout this procedure. Since it's sitting in the bed of my truck, I don't have any way to use the weight of the vehicle to together, uber-safety seemed a VERY wise choice. Thanks to all for your help.



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