by AJB Temple » 28 Apr 2022, 21:12
My son has brought his car back home from uni on a visit for a couple of weeks. Old BMW 33oi sport inline 6 in v. good nick. He is replacing the wishbones among other things as the ball joints are worn and the car is used for track driving.
We've done one side, but can't get the wishbone off the right side. The nut is heavily rusted on. We've used penetrating oil and got about 4mm freed vertically, but now the bolt is simply turning the articulated rod that goes through the wishbone. So now we are in deep mire as we are committed but stalled. The design is that rotation is prevented by a hex socket at the top, in the centre of the shaft that the nut secures. This is heavily rusted and we can't get a hex key (6mm) in far enough to hold at all. It is completely impossible to get a straight knock down from above, as the crankcase is partially in the way. Awkward access and angles.
It is also difficult to get a map gas blow torch on it, as the engine mounting gaiter (hard rubber) is nearby, as is a bit of pipework.
Spanner access is super difficult anyway - I get a sixth of a turn at each time, and that has to be done with a lump hammer and block of wood. Now frustrated anyway by the centre rotation.
I don't have a nut splitter and have never used one, but can try to source one tomorrow.
Very poor access for getting anything in there to cut through the shaft (easy enough to cut the alloy wishbone off but that won't help ).
I can try loading up the joint with a jack to increase friction. Not convinced it will work.
Am I missing anything?
Thanks, Adrian
Don't like: wood, engines, electrickery, decorating, tiling, laying stone, plumbing, gardening or any kind of DIY. Not wild about spiders either.