Changing a front leg

[pfgiz]

OK, Things have progressed a lot this weekend and I'm looking at a Wednesday MOT slot, possibly wishful thinking as I've come to a bit of a blockage.

I need to replace the passenger side front arm with a new one so have tipped the car on the drivers side and have started to remove the things attached to the leg. The issue I have is that the main through bolt. It seems to be stuck fast, as it doesn't want to move at all, but I've not fully dismantled the front suspension. I thought that if the tie rod and nut were removed then the whole unit would come away from the leg, allowing me to replace the leg. Is this right or should I be dismantling the unit before the main bolt can be removed?
Picture for reference:


Any thoughts of this as I'm sure I'm not the first to do this...

Many thanks in advance...

[bmcecosse]

The forces of the torsion bar will never allow you to pull the eyebolt out - with the bar still attached! You will need to dismantle the suspension - which will be difficult now you have no easy way to unload the T bar..........

[pfgiz]

Ta BMC... at least I know what to do.....

[pfgiz]

OK, I've released all of the tension and still it won't budge... Any further hints, or is it as simple as "hit it with a big hammer until it frees itself"?????

[bmcecosse]

You will need to remove(or at least separate) te eyebolt from the T bar. If that's all done - then yes- the eyebolt can be v tight in the leg - may even have been 'welded in' in the past!

[pfgiz]

OK, it's now off of the car, however the eye-bolt has become one with the piece of chassis leg I had to remove to get it. I'm going to be trying WD40 overnight but don't hold out much hope.

Thanks for the help.

[taupe]

Hi

Just carefully grind away the remains of the chassis leg from the bolt.

[bmcecosse]

Apply HEAT!

[pfgiz]

I'm going to try with heat tomorrow morning, my girlfriend makes glass beads with am oxy/propane torch which I hope will get the bolt hot enough. If not I'll go with the careful grinding method....

On another note, the leg itself. Am I right in thinking the best way to weld it would be to mimik spot welds by drilling holes and welding through them? Also, does anyone know what the internal measurement should be between the chassis legs? The one on there is in a state so unsure of it's integraty.

Hanks again for all the help.

[joeone62]

If you get the chance feed in more pictures of your work, it would be interesting also because I will have to front the same task soon, thank and good luck

[pfgiz]

No worries, I'll be posting more pictures over the next few days in the restoration section under the heading 'Puddles'.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - replicate spot welds - but use plenty of them - and add lots more!! Sorry - don't know the dimension........

[pfgiz]

Heat work like a treat.....



Now it back to the work in hand, removal of the rusty leg and fitting of the new one....... Pictures to be posted in the restoration section....

Thanks again for your help....

[bmcecosse]

Well done - check to see if the 'eye' of the eyebolt has been worn away by running with knackered rubbers........