Cage experts, help needed!

**Scuba_Steve** · 13th January 2016, 18:32

I'm having difficulty with 1 bolt on my control arm of my cage... Anyone know how to get it out??? (please don't tell me I need a special tool)
This is the bolt in question

Next time I might just get someone else to do this shit, all this just to replace this fucking thing, why can't vehicles be easy???

**bogan** · 13th January 2016, 18:34

Looks like it might be seized into the control arm bushing, when you put a socket on it will it spin?

**Motu** · 13th January 2016, 18:41

It's siezed onto the inner sleeve of the bush....you have a problem. Cut the bolt and head, and spread the Xmember to get the arm out.

**Motu** · 13th January 2016, 18:42

It's siezed onto the inner sleeve of the bush....you have a problem. Cut the bolt and head, and spread the Xmember to get the arm out. What vehicle?

**Bikemad** · 13th January 2016, 18:50

if you haven't got much room to swing a decent hammer you could weld an eye to the bolt head and put some tension on it using a cable tensioner or small come along/chain block fixed to another point on the chassis.....or a sliding drift hammer...... while tapping the thread end ....heaps of crc too......let it soak for a night ..put the nut back on as Tazz said until you unfreeze it....good luck

**sidecar bob** · 13th January 2016, 18:57

Is that a Nissan van? You don't need to take the arm out to replace the ball joint, it can all be done with it as is.
Talk about make a mission out of nothing.
45 min labour & I would still have time up my sleeve. Want me to tell you how?

**Scuba_Steve** · 13th January 2016, 18:59

The bolt does spin, but there's friction like it's spinning rubber with it
I've tried a couple hit with a hammer (nothing too extreme, the van isn't as stable as it could possibly be) but can't see any movement from it

**Scuba_Steve** · 13th January 2016, 19:03

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

Is that a Nissan van? You don't need to take the arm out to replace the ball joint, it can all be done with it as is.
Talk about make a mission out of nothing.
45 min labour & I would still have time up my sleeve. Want me to tell you how?

Yea it's a Nissan, if the joint can be replaced without arm removal that would be advantageous. I don't have a press kit (if that's what's required) so was gonna rip the arm off & take it to a guy that could press it for me on a not so portable press kit (assuming these are pressed)

**sidecar bob** · 13th January 2016, 19:09

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

Yea it's a Nissan, if the joint can be replaced without arm removal that would be advantageous. I don't have a press kit (if that's what's required) so was gonna rip the arm off & take it to a guy that could press it for me on a not so portable press kit (assuming these are pressed)

Here's what you do.
Make sure to remove the circlip above the arm on the ball joint, you already have the boot off, that's part of the job.
Put an axle stand, or something made of solid metal under the arm near the ball joint, but not under it with a bit of preload (for fucks sake don't use wood,it absorbs the shock)
Pivot the threaded ball joint stub out towards you & hit it fuckin hard with a big hammer, hitting the top edge of the ball joint is ok too with the stub turned in.
Three hits & its out.
Ok, fuck off & do that while it's still daytime & by the time you get back I will tell you how to put the new one in.

**sidecar bob** · 13th January 2016, 19:18

Clean up the hole that the ball joint virtually fell out of with a bit of very coarse sandpaper.
Find a large socket or round steel thing with a circular hole in it that the outer lower circular machined edge of the ball joint rests on nicely.
Put the ball joint in the hole with a bit of grease on things put the socket or round thing under the ball joint with an axle stand or stack of solid metal things directly to a solid surface, with a bit of preload (you're wasting your time if it's on the lawn)
Get a thick metal drift & hit the outer edge of the suspension arm down, watching that the ball joint is going in straight & ajusting the under support to compensate, if it goes too crooked, knock it out & start again.
Once things go solid, put the circlip on & you know the rest.
Grease the ball joint if it has a nipple & dont forget to tighten that inner lower pivot you have been messing with.
Don't be a pussy, you're not going to fuck anything with a hammer & drift, it's made of tougher stuff than that.
Remember, if it seems too difficult you're probably doing it wrong.

**Bikemad** · 13th January 2016, 19:26

watch this........it may be helpful........pretty much what bob said but using a tool for the install
https://youtu.be/3EBDAgbJjjI

**Woodman** · 13th January 2016, 20:25

To install you can also put an axle stand under the partly pressed in ball joint then let your jack down quickly and the weight of the van will press it in.

**bogan** · 13th January 2016, 20:33

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

The bolt does spin, but there's friction like it's spinning rubber with it
I've tried a couple hit with a hammer (nothing too extreme, the van isn't as stable as it could possibly be) but can't see any movement from it

Spin like a full turn, or spin like 20 degrees whilst increasing in resistance, if it's the former, you've probably got a fucked control arm bush. If it's the latter you've got a seized bolt to bush.

As for the ball joint, follow sidecar bob's advice.

**Scuba_Steve** · 13th January 2016, 20:58

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

Here's what you do.
Make sure to remove the circlip above the arm on the ball joint, you already have the boot off, that's part of the job.
Put an axle stand, or something made of solid metal under the arm near the ball joint, but not under it with a bit of preload (for fucks sake don't use wood,it absorbs the shock)
Pivot the threaded ball joint stub out towards you & hit it fuckin hard with a big hammer, hitting the top edge of the ball joint is ok too with the stub turned in.
Three hits & its out.
Ok, fuck off & do that while it's still daytime & by the time you get back I will tell you how to put the new one in.

Well that hasn't worked out for me... being that it's on gravel probably isn't helping things tho.
Might just have to give up & get someone round. Need it done by Sat

Originally Posted by bogan

Spin like a full turn, or spin like 20 degrees whilst increasing in resistance, if it's the former, you've probably got a fucked control arm bush. If it's the latter you've got a seized bolt to bush.

As for the ball joint, follow sidecar bob's advice.

Full turn, managed to smack it out by 20mm but she's still as stuck as she was beforehand

**sidecar bob** · 13th January 2016, 21:03

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

Well that hasn't worked out for me... being that it's on gravel probably isn't helping things tho.
Might just have to give up & get someone round. Need it done by Sat

Fuckin beat it with the biggest hammer you can swing like you hate it.