So these guys have been together almost 54 years and don't seem to want to separate. I have given a few judicious whacks with a hammer but no cooperation. Any thoughts or tips on how these come apart??

 

Good question...following.

 

If you don't have a great love for those bolts, you could try to drive/press them out one at a time. Then the assembly should come apart from the TA.
Put a long socket or pipe over the backside of each bolt and support on a very hard surface. They should drive out.

 

Soak the beegeezus out of them with a good penetrant for several days.

 

That would take me all of 2 minutes to get apart. No heat, no soaking, no broken parts- at least that were not already broken.

 

Can you tell us how?

 

I would take a BFH and knock all the bolts out, I would be replacing them with new anyway.

 

Well...it is coming to GTR1999 anyway so....I am just trying to get you a better cleaner starting point. I will get u overall update by email soon. I do want to preserve all parts if at all possible. Nothing looks bent. Been PB soaking. Surprised no one mentioned heat. Maybe a side shock hit with BFH for starters. I do have a 12 ton press so could thread each nut almost all the way back on and try that.

Thanks to all for input so far.

 

Sure, typically once you get to the point where you are, rust is holding the parts together. Spraying penetrating oil helps but I always replace the arm studs. They are in the way, some have pitted threads, and it is just better to use new studs and nuts. I drive those out, simple hammer and punch work.

Next I don't use a press with arms, only to install new bearings. Support the arms from outer surface on some 2x4 or 4x4's. Just to tap the bracket off, usually it will come off without a lot of work. Then I have an aluminum puck I place on the inside face of the support, and a shot or two with a 4 or5 lb mine sledge drives the support out, no damage as long as it is supported and you hit the puck solid. The arm as pictured wouldn't take as long as it took me to type this answer out.

I have not used a press to break down an arm in over 15 years. Spindle knocker and 5 lb hammer gets the axle out in a few shots.

The thing to look for when taking apart arms are rust separation and previous workers talent. Both are bad and wreck parts. The outer bearing should still be on the axle, if it comes off or moved, then the axle is probably bad. Sometimes the bearing spin on the axle or people slip fit them, both bad.

 

Thanks to all for input. I got it all apart. Bubba has been all over this car but do not see any detrimental facets on this arm anyway. Time to get it all cleaned up...Evaporust...and on to rebuild
!