Strut rod shaft removal

[Richard D.]

Looking for suggestions on how to remove strut rod shaft on my 65. Cotter key and nut came off ok, shock came off ok, and strut rods are off strut rod bracket at differential. I have tried gear
puller and lots of liquid wrench, but that is just spreading the forks of the spindle bearing support. Before I reach for the hot wrench I am open to any suggestions.

[Edward J.]

Re: Strut rod shaft removal

Richard, they make a special tool made to thread onto the shock mount once the nut is removed, you'll need a hammer to knock out the shock mount, they are generally a tight fit to the spindle support.

[Larry M.]

Re: Strut rod shaft removal

Richard:

John Hinckley stated that he has had good success using an air hammer or rivet gun on this joint. I think he also uses the special tool that Ed mentioned above.

When I needed to remove mine for rebuilding the trailing arms, I cut the strut with a Sawz-all and sent everything to Bair's. The are well equipped for this job. FWIW: They told me they use two BFH (big hammers) and two guys. One guy uses one big hammer for backup on the wheel spindle and the other guy applies the force using the second hammer.

I would first try Kroil and an air hammer…………..but the torch will also work.

Larry

[Timothy B.]

Re: Strut rod shaft removal

Richard,

Keep in mind both the strut rods and shock bolts are not difficult to find but the spindle support (if you break the ears) requires quite a bit of work to replace.

In a worst case I would consider a sawz-all and cut the shock bolt on either side of the strut, remove the strut undamaged and then knock out the remaining bolt parts from the ears of the spindle support. Replacing the shock bolts is probably a good idea anyway because of rust.

[Gary R.]

Re: Strut rod shaft removal

Richard,Seized shock mounts are a bear to get out and trying to do it could wreck the support. I posted the link to my thread on rebuilding arms, on the 2nd to last page I show how I removed a frozen shock mount. There was no way the shock mount was going to hammer or press out without breaking the support legs. running a sawzall in between will cut it out but I have seen the support get chewed up that way a lot of times. I removed this one, had to replace the strut rod and mount but the support was in tact without issue and that was the goal.http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...=77000&page=13

[Joe L.]

Re: Strut rod shaft removal

Richard,Seized shock mounts are a bear to get out and trying to do it could wreck the support. I posted the link to my thread on rebuilding arms, on the 2nd to last page I show how I removed a frozen shock mount. There was no way the shock mount was going to hammer or press out without breaking the support legs. running a sawzall in between will cut it out but I have seen the support get chewed up that way a lot of times. I removed this one, had to replace the strut rod and mount but the support was in tact without issue and that was the goal.http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...=77000&page=13

Gary------


YUP. If the factor causing "freezing" of the shock mount shafts is serious corrosion, they'll never come out by pounding or pressing and the bearing support will be in jeopardy if either is attempted. In this case, though, there's no need to be concerned about damage to or destruction of the shock mount shafts----they won't be any good for re-use even if one could get them out undamaged and intact.

[Gary R.]

Re: Strut rod shaft removal

Hi Joe, Yes I agree, the mounts are going to be trashed for sure. I have some supports here that are no good either because someone didn't stop and hammered on them so much the ends of the legs are bent at an angle.