T-Arm HELP
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Rockford MI
T-Arm HELP
I am going to be removing my T - Arms soon. I was very glad to find the bolts were not frozen so no sawzall or torch will be needed. But how in the world do you get your hand back there to get them out or better yet put back in???? The brake line bracket is right in the way blocking the opening just enough so you can't get you hand in there.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 223
From: Pawleys Island, SC
It's tight but you can get enough of your hand in there to get it. Getting them out is a piece of cake compared to getting them back in. The LH one is the toughest for some reason. I put a piece of safety wire around it so I wouldn't have to spend 10 minutes retrieving from wherever every time I dropped it. Which was a lot. Suspend the TA from the frame with safety wire in the final bolted position so you only have to maneuver it slightly to get the holes to line up.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Okiehoma
Pull the body off the frame
I used some strong wax string that I put through the frame, T-arm then attached to the hole in the end of the bolt. When everything was lined up I pulled on the string, this helped get the bolt started and was easier to find each time it fell.
I used some strong wax string that I put through the frame, T-arm then attached to the hole in the end of the bolt. When everything was lined up I pulled on the string, this helped get the bolt started and was easier to find each time it fell.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Glenview IL
Originally Posted by BerniesVette
I used needle nose pliers to start the bolts.
Thats what I did. I used a few choice words as well. Quick tip: Test fit the bolts in the TA before you put the TA in. You want to make sure that the sleeve in the bushing is still round and did not get distorted when you staked it.
~Rich
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Central KY
I had a helper hold the t-arm in aligned position and I just ran the bolts straight through with no hassle. The shims stay put thanks to the cotter pin that holds them in. I held them in alignment as I fed the bolt through...
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Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Kennesaw GA
I was in the same boat a month ago, but some needle-nosed vice-grips, and some small dabs of RTV to hold the washers to the TA's worked very well. I was able to locate the TA into the pocket and keep it in place with a jack stand and get everything lined up and bolted in by myself. It only seems impossible, once you do it a couple times it becomes much easier.