When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have my new VB&P Strut arms but cant get the old ones off. Anyone have any good suggestions of how to get this peice off?
Thanks
Jason
Also I was thinking...I have this problem of not being able to get some part or another off or on or something about every week. Would it ever be possible to compile something for beginners that tells how to get things apart correctly, mainly for parts that have little tricks or seem like their must be a better way. Or maybe just posting the problem would be better...just a thought.
Ah yes, the stuck shock mount. You can do this a couple ways, first you can get a shock mount removal tool which is nothing more than a big nut (available at Van Steel , or you can use a hammer and punch but be very careful not to damage the threads. Shoot some WD-40 or equivalent on it before starting.
Re: Another Part I cant Get Off... (C3 Shark Tank)
I used the Van Steel tool to get mine off. They were really tough and I'm sure that I would have screwed them up without the tool. You need to start soakong them with a product called "Kroil". That's the best stuff I've ever used.
Re: Another Part I cant Get Off... (silvervetteman)
Soak them with PB Blaster or some other product. Put a big nut on the end so you won't mushroom the threads. Put a length of pipe over the shock mount itself. Use a BIG hammer and whack away, using the pipe over the shock mount to push/rotate up and down. Don't be afraid to really pound it. If that doesn't work, try heat via a propane or MAPP gas torch....acetylene if you have it. This is truly a miserable job. No matter what anyone tells you, it's tough and time consuming. If you mushroom the mount, you can buy new ones. Be careful you don't break the "D" openings in the spindle supports. Chuck
Re: Another Part I cant Get Off... (silvervetteman)
You need to start soakong them with a product called "Kroil". That's the best stuff I've ever used.
I never heard of that stuff--where can you get it. I've used PB Blaster with fairly good results (a whole lot better than WD-40), but I still love to find something even better.
Thanks for all the help. This is kind of what Im talking about though...You look in your manuals and it says something like "remove shock mount"...great...but look what it takes to remove it...anyway, looks like I have a fun job ahead of me.
I live here in Tucson and I have a shock mount removal tool. If you still need one then email me. In the mean time, start soaking it. I would like to see your car anyway. I have a friend here in Tucson that worked exclusively with C3s for years and is an invaluable source of info. He also drives a '76.
Ditto what everbody else said. It is a pain. Give these suggestions a try and post back. Your doesn't look to bad actually but regardless it will take some pounding.
Looking at your picture, I was wondering if you have the rear wheels off the ground. If not, you need to get the rear of the car up on jackstands. The rear suspension including, shocks, struts and halfshafts support the trailing arm. The car shouldn't have its weight on the wheels when these components are removed! :nono:
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Another Part I cant Get Off... (67HEAVEN)
Erika that was the first thing I saw also. Before you know that shock mount out get the car off the ground and on some jackstands some where solid. We want to keep you with us safe and in one piece. :cool:
PS chock those front wheels. Drive careful. Dont stay out too late. Dont eat the yellow snow. Dont spit in to the wind. Did I miss anything else. :jester
The answer to the question will I live or will I die?...if the car falls on my face has third possible answer...you may wish you had died. But the only thing that really scares me is fire...but do be careful...
:smash: As much as I like your suggestion Noel, I'm afraid it won't work on the most recent unremovable part. Does anyone know if there's a special trick to removing the "pivot screw" from the seats? We had to drill the last one out and I can't stand the thought of doing it twice more. :cry :cuss These things aren't budging even a hair.
Actually, the jack stand thing is not as bad as you might think. Here in Tucson, gravel was used extensively as driveways and is more solid than it looks. The gravel is firmly set in the ground which is hard as rock and doesn't move when you drive on it. When we bought a new house here, I had to pay guys with jackhammers to dig holes for my trees at three hours per hole! If the jackstands are placed right at first they will not budge. Now for you guys that have some wierd thing called grass growing out of your ground then I wouldn't recommend it.
If you're gonna replace the strut, then may I suggest a 10" cutoff blade mounted to a heavyduty 7" variable speed polisher(large angle grinder). I've used this techniqe for all sorts of jobs like this. Just cut right through the strut and bolt and then buy new mounting hardware. Believe me, you can finish the job in minutes intead of hours/days...if you're like me, time is money. Some jobs can't be done without this tool, for example, replacing old rusted leaf springs on my '87 blazer. Good luck! :smash: :smash:
Re: Another Part I cant Get Off... (Calm Screamer2)
If you're gonna replace the strut, then may I suggest a 10" cutoff blade mounted to a heavyduty 7" variable speed polisher(large angle grinder). I've used this techniqe for all sorts of jobs like this. Just cut right through the strut and bolt and then buy new mounting hardware. Believe me, you can finish the job in minutes intead of hours/days...if you're like me, time is money. Some jobs can't be done without this tool, for example, replacing old rusted leaf springs on my '87 blazer. Good luck! :smash: :smash:
This is exactly what I did - lopped it off through the shaft - took the trailing arm out (that was the point of the excercise) and then cut down between the bushing and the bearing support. Found out that no amount of banging or kroil would have solved the problem as the shock mount had permanently fused to the steel center of the bushing - couldnt have been in more permanent if I'd had it welded.
Unless you are convinced you must have the original strut rods, better ones can be had from VB&P for a little over 100 bones - that way you can lop those bad boys off and get on with the repair.