One Kick

Just finished pulling the steering rack this evening, my ATI balancer arrives tomorrow. I wanted to have everything ready so I could finish the project tomorrow evening, but!
I can't loosen the bolt so I can pull the bad unit. Some advice is needed, I am working alone android market have the car on my lift, I am using a 3/4 ratchet and a strap designed to hold the balancer. The problem is I cant hold the strap tight with one hand and operate the ratchet with the other. Should I get the tool that locks the flywheel or are there other options. Also is the 3/4 inch ratchet up to the job of breaking the bolt loose?
Thanks in advance.

gmtech1234

I haven't done this yet but the flywheel hold tool looks like the way to go IMO. I think the torque speech is over 200#ft. You will need a longer ratchet or breaker bar, may need a cheater bar on it.

sevinn

Search the big auction site for the part number of the Kent Moore tool (j-42386-a) and you'll see an alternative that a person makes for significantly cheaper. You can try putting the car in 5th or 6 as well, but regardless you'll probably need a cheater pipe. I used my jack handle.

slayer6x6

I'm a bit spoiled in the tool department, but I used this monster to crack it loose.

https://store.snapon.com/Breaker-Bar...--P758454.aspx

ttx350z

I just put it in 6th and set the parking brake. It didn't even budge when I broke torque on the balancer bolt. I used a jack handle as a cheater bar on a 1/2" breaker bar.

HK770

This is what you need and will make your life simpler.....BOTH, off and back on


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LS1-2-3-LSX-...209955&vxp=mtr

sevinn

That's what I was getting at, but ebay links are often frowned upon here

I used it for my swap...worth every penny.

One Kick

Thanks guys, I ordered the Kent Moore tool, I've had real good luck with them so I'll give it a go. This turns into quite a project and I found I have an excuse to buy some tools that I didn't have. The Metrics are a pain in the butt as I have a good selection of SAE tools but was lacking in the Metric selection. I'll say one thing no matter how many videos you watch on removing the steering rack it really sucks, the brake lines were the biggest pain. I going to look at it real close and try and figure out why it cant be taken out from the passenger side and avoid all the other issues. Maybe it cant be done, a lot of good mechanics have been doing this for a while and they always use the drivers side. Oh well hopefully I'll finish it up next week when the holding tool arrives.
Thanks

sevinn

It absolutely can come out of the passenger side and I was fairly certain that's how most people do it (including myself...twice last month ). Sorry for the trouble!

Take a look at rpmextra's thread here:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...full-pics.html

Specifically this pic:

ttx350z

I pulled mine out through the passenger side. I didn't try to remove the whole rack. Just moved it enough to get clearance to the balancer.

Attachment 48364952

One Kick

Don't know why I was so fixated on pulling through the drivers side, although I think most of the u tube videos show using the driver side. This project sure is teaching me a lot!

07MontRedcp

I believe they have dropped that rule.

BJK

94ltz

The eBay link is the tool I use and it works great.

cclive

It took my mechanic six hours to do mine...he told me that if he did it again, he could do it in two or three now. Tricky and steep learning curve.

Paratrooper307

I'll admit when I did it on my 05 some time ago I cheated and busted it loose with an impact. When I reinstalled the new bolt and damper, I put it in gear with the parking brake and torqued it down, held fine.

CTD

Propane torch on the head of the bolt, get it hot to break down the Loctite.

schpenxel

6th gear, have someone hold down the brake pedal. It will hold everything still

You will probably need a cheater bar.. that thing is TIGHT.

Or one of these:



I used this for removal
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007WWS2FY

And this for install
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WJO9WTA

They both made it a cake walk compared to what I had to use last time.

rpmextra

Impact is the way to go do get it off. The vibration with break the loctite. I really recommend using the flywheel tool for install. and always use a new bolt. Livernois motorsports recommends OEM no loctite and grease threads and washer and head torque to OE spec.

Paratrooper307

That's the same one I have. That thing is strong!

schpenxel

This is the first time I've really not been sure if it would take it off or not... it ended up barely even having to "impact".. it pulled it out in no time. I was impressed