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Top trunnion pivot pins

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:58 pm
by winger300
I'm in the middle of what was originally a small job of replacing some bushes :)

The top pivot pin that joins the top trunnion to the damper arm is stuck. I've removed the Swivel pins, and tried a big hammer on the end of the pivot pin. It's moved by a couple of mm but no further.

Is a large hammer the preferred method of removing it? or am I doing something completely wrong?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:08 pm
by alex_holden
They can be a pig to get apart - they seem to cold-weld themselves together if they haven't been taken apart for a number of years. Ideally you'd use a special splitter tool on them, but the type they sell for track rod ends usually aren't big enough or strong enough. The first time I did this job on Fenchurch I had to take the dampers off with the pins still stuck in them, put the arm in the vice with the jaws supporting the front of the arm, heat the end of the arm up with a large blowtorch, then beat the end of the pin so hard it wrecked the nut and thread. I did the same job again today (replacing leaky dampers) and the pins weren't stuck so badly - I still had to take the dampers off the car so I could support the arm properly, but I didn't have to use heat or hit the pins so hard as to damage them.

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:18 am
by aupickup
try a joint seperater, thats what i use

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:42 pm
by bmcecosse
But - to replace the bushes you don't need to take the pin away from the damper! Just slide the first bush on (polyurethane I hope!) then the 'eye' of the swivel pin, and then slide on the outer bush followed bythe thick keeper washer and the lock tab and nut. It's a 10 minute job!

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:10 pm
by winger300
The pin looks badly corroded and worn though, so I'd prefer to replace it while I can.

I just managed to get it off with a lot of hammering. Thanks for the advice.

Do this part usually come with the Top trunnion kit? or should I order it separately?

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:31 pm
by aupickup
it does not come with the trunnions seperately. tho some minor shops do a complete assembly

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:56 pm
by bmcecosse
Wow - never sen one 'worn' - the bushes must have been ruined !