Area Representative IanW Posted February 25, 2012 Area Representative Share Posted February 25, 2012 I am attempting to remove the front dampers (to fit adjustable platforms) and the right-hand side is proving difficult. The bottom bolt unscrews until it disengages from the a-frame. But it won't come out. There is about 3mm of head showing and no matter how much I pull on it with pliers of mole-grips it doesn't want to come out. I'm guessing that it has 'attached' itself to the bush somehow. Any suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dignity Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Have you tried Plus Gas? here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative IanW Posted February 25, 2012 Author Area Representative Share Posted February 25, 2012 No I haven't. Do you think it will free the bolt from the sleeve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dignity Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Quoting IanW: No I haven't. Do you think it will free the bolt from the sleeve? Worth a try. I changed my fronts last year and I would have struggled without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 3mm isn't much, I think it should unwind a bit further than that before you can pull it out - I think the whole head comes clear of the wishbone before you can pull it. As it is a fine thread you have to unwind it quite a lot. Edited by - Grubbster on 25 Feb 2012 17:40:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Confirmed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I know exactly what you mean. It won't unscrew any more than 3 mm because the tip of the capscrew has already disengaged from the female threaded hole. The rubber bush puts sufficient side load to grip the capscrew. I had the same problem. I spent a whole evening trying to extract this one capscrew while doing a wide track conversion. It was easier to take off the whole lower wishbone. Then I put the exposed 3 mm of head in a vice and it just slipped out. Did the same for the other side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative IanW Posted February 25, 2012 Author Area Representative Share Posted February 25, 2012 Thanks Chewie, that's just the sort of information I need . Not sure I want to take the whole assembly off though. I'll have another go tomorrow to see if I can't ease it out somehow. Steve - As to the 3mm showing, I checked the other side without the damper in place and the bolt slid in until the same 3mm was left. Only then does it need turning to engage the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 It's likely because the spring is pushing down and the wishbone is pushing up (when you torque up the wishbones it's in the horizontal, not the droop, so the bushes want to return the wishbone to the horizontal, if you see what I mean...). So with the needle nose pliers on the caphead, push down on the wishbone and see if it slides out. It's a rubbish design, at least you didn't round one off in there like I did... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 You could always put in a longer bolt with a few washers under the head, but i like it as it is and mounted with a bit of copper grease everything comes out with no proplems. But then you have the head sticking out of the wish bone with in not neat enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative IanW Posted February 26, 2012 Author Area Representative Share Posted February 26, 2012 Update: Another couple of hours spent trying to remove the bolt without success. I tried a pair of pincers (circa 1950 😬) but still couldn't get any movement other than rotational. Having inspected the aluminium spacer bush from the other side, I can see that it is scored on the inside from the thread of the bolt. If the same has happened on the one I'm having trouble with and the spacer is 'threaded' on to the bolt and if it is turning freely inside the damper, then this is the reason it won't come out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Trust me taking out the two wishbone bolts is a run in the sun. Like you I spent hours with mole grips, spring compressors, clamps, etc. As it was a wide track conversion the wishbones had to come off anyway. Back to your issue, try Dremeling (new verb) a notch groove on the capscrew head to give you something to lever against. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative IanW Posted February 27, 2012 Author Area Representative Share Posted February 27, 2012 Finally sorted 😬 😬 I used a dremel type tool to cut a couple of grooves into the head, clamped the pincers on and gingerly hit with a hammer. It moved but didn't come completely out - until I used a bigger hammer 😬. Thanks for all the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Warms the cockles of me 'eart to hear of someone else learning The Way Of The Big Hammer 😶🌫️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Technical term is "Percussion Maintenance" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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