Lateral link - Removal tips?
 

Just wondering what your tips are for getting this one out. Have had no trouble with the outboard bolt. It is the inboard bolt.

I have it looesely threaded and have driven about 10 miles. Hoping that it would work loose.

James

I used a c-clamp to put downward pressure on the bar. This forced the mount into the taper and kept it from spinning.

Well, I already have the nuts loose. My trouble is getting the link its self out of the inboard mont. I will keep that in mind though. I like htat idea for getting the nut out!

James

oh, I thought you were trying to get the nut off but the joint was turning.

To separate the joint, you can use a pickle fork. Or, thread the nut 3/4ths of the way on (to protect the threads) then pound on the nut to force it up. The sub-frame does not allow you to pound on the bolt directly, so I use a metal rod or an old bolt and pound on that (that is what I did).

DO NOT pound the subframe-lateral link bolts with a metal bar, they will NOT come out.

I had these pressed out at a machine shop. That's the ONLY way to prevent from damaging them.

You may need to use an air-impact gun to put the nuts back on.

So you took the whole subframe to a machine shop to remove the lateral links?

James

Yep, the rear A-arm side came off fine, but the links would NOT come out of the frame. I had the machine shop re-tap my threads since I slightly mushroomed one of the bolts.

Man!

I wonder if greasing the stud that goes into the subframe would help it from seizing.

I was able to pound one out of santiago's parts car with his help. But it took about a half hour.

How about the pickle fork idea?

James

I hope this doesn't mean we have to rip out the sub-frame again. :mad:

I tried the tirerod seperator (pickel fork), soaked nuts in PB blaster for 2 days, slightly mushroomed the head from banging. Nothing worked.

Didn't want to pry on them as I might bend the lateral links.

Just because it didn't work for you doesn’t mean it won't work for others.

I removed mine this way without trouble.

PER FSM:
http://www.rit.edu/~jar5968/rx7ll.jpg

If you leave the nut threaded 3/4ths of the way on, the bolt will not mushroom.

Damn, you are one luck SOB:)

I got my pickle fork rented from Autozone. I am gonna beat the %$@^#% out of that thing tomorrow.

James

Thought I would update this older than hell thread...

Turns out the reason it was so hard to get the link out was because I put it in wrong:(

The lateral links have different shaped ends on them. If you look at the diagram for the rear suspension you will notice that. However, I did not notice that at the time:)

James