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Field Goal!

Big T

Big T

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OK, the wife is on a business trip out of town, so I went out drinking and got some advice (inspiration) on removing the torsion bars from a pole dancer. It worked:

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So, now I need more advice. I still need to remove and install bushings and it's a bit unwieldy in this configuration. How do I get the torsion bars out of the Lower Control Arms (LCA) or the the crossmember? I tried my little air hammer and no good:

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Do I need to buy a bigger air hammer? Soak the bars in PB for a week? Which location is best to remove them: a) cross member torsion keys, or b) LCAs?
 
They just slide out, they aren't held in by anything at the front/ a-arm ... the screw in the key can come apart easy and just remove the key ....
 
sctrailrider said:
They just slide out, they aren't held in by anything at the front/ a-arm ... the screw in the key can come apart easy and just remove the key ....
Click to expand...

After almost 20 years, they're rusted in place. If they just slid out, I wouldn't be in this predicament. I posted a video where they just slid out after the guy undid the torsion keys. Ain't happening here. They're stuck in there and ain't budging.
 
I've always lucked out with the air hammer. Just hold it on there and let it hit for awhile. The air hammer won't drive them out, but it can loosen the rust up.
 
THEFERMANATOR said:
I've always lucked out with the air hammer. Just hold it on there and let it hit for awhile. The air hammer won't drive them out, but it can loosen the rust up.
Click to expand...

That little hammer in the picture was not doing it. Where do you hold it? Front of the bar on the inside rear of the LCA?

I'm going to order that bigger Ingersoll Rand model I linked to you. Found a hammer bit at RA.
 
ak diesel driver said:
find someone with a press.
Click to expand...

My pool man (foreign concept for you up there) has a 6 ton bearing press. He did the bushings in the upper control arms. However, configured like this, they're too unwieldy. I need to separate the LCAs. I've got them soaking the 50/50 mix of Acetone/ATF. I'm ordering a bigger air hammer. It's going to happen. We just figure the truck will be down a couple weeks. I may go search the boneyards to see if I can find some forged LCAs.
 
At least she will take your mind off the problem.

Might try and use a jack and some chain to try and put some force on it. I have used a floor jack and some chain to straighten a trailer axle that bent ( sagged from over loading) and straightened my bush hog tailwheel framing. Try different stuff maybe chain a bottle jack to the torsion bar base against A arm then use a drift in the hole of A arm and circle over drift with chain to jack and put some force on it while hammering. Just be careful of buckling and getting stuff bound up and it springing out on you pinching or hitting you etc.

There is always a bigger hammer. I have chained a flat bar to a 4x4 and smacked the crap out of it with a sledge hammer to straighten or set it on a stump or ground and smacked the crap out of stuff. Then pick it up and reposition for a another wack. Just have to make sure kids and pets aren't too close and in an open area.

It might take me a while but if I get aggrivated at something like that I bet I could figure a way to bend the snot out of it with a chain, jack, and tree and or sledge hammer. Did I mention my beginnings were as a shade tree appretince and haven't really advanced that much.
 
I could also see using a come-along and maybe 2 trees and some chain and try to pull it apart while hammering and and spraying it with penetrant. I have very little dignity sometimes. Its a good thing my neighbors can't see what I am up to.

I think a bottle jack and 4x4 chained to Tbar could at least press one or the other ends off pretty easy. Jack on it spray and beat then but another pump on jack and repeat.
 
schiker said:
I could also see using a come-along and maybe 2 trees and some chain and try to pull it apart while hammering and and spraying it with penetrant. I have very little dignity sometimes. Its a good thing my neighbors can't see what I am up to.

I think a bottle jack and 4x4 chained to Tbar could at least press one or the other ends off pretty easy. Jack on it spray and beat then but another pump on jack and repeat.
Click to expand...

Schiker, thanks for the feedback. I'm having trouble envisioning this. Are you saying to wrap a chain around a sandwhich of 4x4>Bottle Jack>LCA? Expand the jack and whack, then repeat?

I've done similar to this when trying to separate 4" Diamond Eye Exhaust. Stretched the exhaust between two trucks and banged on the joints with a rubber mallet and they separated.

Time to hit Harbor Freight for a cheapo bottle jack.
 
Looks like you could strap a 4x4 or other long piece to allow the jack to reach and jack apart it's going to buckle and want to fold out or lean away so tie it to torsion bar so it can't get away. Might could just wrap it many times with rope since 4x4 is so long but probably have to chain jack. Heck try a rig with the scissor jack from truck but a bottle jack comes in handy
 
Really what ever will work. Basically make a press out of bottle jack or floor jack and what ever works: chain or tree another truck etc. Some times a big c clamp can help hold stuff the jack or chain or use as a mobile vise against a bock of wood. It doesn't always have to press it out but put exta force on it and a hammer can break it loose.
 
Schiker. You get the McGyver award. 12 ton bottle jack plus some hi test chain and connecting links and the bushings popped right out. Well 3 of 4 did. One of the sleeves on a front bushing came most of the way out and I cut that off and pushed the remainder back and it came out the center of the LCA. New bushings popped right in with the BFH. Now we just need to grind and drill out the rivets on the ball joints. I started that and got one river completely done, then wife showed and were off to our 2nd home in Big Bear. I'll leave the drilling and ball joint install to my son. I'll handle putting the goal post back in as I took it out and it's a bit tricky.
 
Glad u got it. McGyver and the A team i think were the inspiration for some stuff I have done. Also lack of a press or vise makes me have to improvise.
 
Food for thought for anyone you could maybe use a long bolt washers and big socket or pipe joint and make a puller for the bushings. Let the bolt pull the bushing out into the pipe. Might need threaded rod so u have enough threaded length
 
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