LEETR4A Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 (edited) Hi all I am trying to remove the track control arms from my daughter's '7' to renew the bushes and ball joints, but cannot get the inner track arm bolts out. They seem to have rusted within the old bushes and so far I have tried copious amounts of penetrating oil and belting them with a club hammer without success and also have tried to saw through the bolt, but haven't got far with that attempt either. I thought about grinding off the head and threaded end of the bolt either side of the mounting bracket, but can't get the grinder in there so any other ideas? I would prefer not to use heat as my garage is attached to the house and the smell of burning rubber would not go down too well. Regards Lee Edited July 14, 2009 by LEETR4A Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mak Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 Just removed some track control arms from a spare (very rusty) subframe where this was a problem - my solution was to cut the subframe up. This doesn't really help you but have you tried something like 'shock and unlock' from halfords? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wayne S Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 The bushes in the track arms have a metal collar in them that the bolt passes through, it must be that that has rusted to the bolt. Heat may well help but I think even if you can melt the bush the collar wont withdraw through the bolt hole in the subframe. You certainly dont want to be cutting subframes if you can help it. The only other thing I can suggest is HSS hire have some handy reciprocal saws that you might be able to into the gap between the the track arm and the subframe to cut the bolts. Its a real pain in the A**E tho becuase even when the bolts are free and the bushes are new you still have to whallop the track arms out of the subframe with a coppermallet! Might be worth getting involved over at www.forum.triumphtr7.com to see if anyone there has some ingenious solutions.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
willywonka Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 These are still on offer at our local Aldi store. http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_5180.htm http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_7649.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bob-menhennett Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 Lee I appreciate the intregal garage / naked flame scenario but are you able to get a kettle or thermos flask of boiling water poured over the offending bolt ? Repeated application, combined with a little persuasion with a club hammer may just shift it.Put the nut back on the end of the bolt, to provide a greater surface area to hit.Penetrating oil, in betweeen the kettle boiling up again, will all help. Put some newpapers down to catch the drips. Another thought, can you get a ball joint splitter in there ? Good luck with it. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mak Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Oh dear - I feel I may have been a bit reckless mentioning cutting things up! - If it all goes wrong I have a spare subframe you can have for the cost of postage - it is rust free but lightly dented underneath. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LEETR4A Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Hi all Thanks for the replies. I'm going to try the reciprocating saw method and hopefully that should solve the problem. Regards Lee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Hi Lee, as you probably know part of the problem is that you are hitting against a rubber bush so nearly all the shock of the hammer blow is lost. Somehow you need to squeeze the bolt in such a way that the rubber bush has no further to spring and then clout it with the hammer. G-clamps, sockets lengths of steel tube are coming to mind. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Hi Lee, another thought - can you drill down the length of the bolt. If you can then this may relieve the effect of the rust holding it together. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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