So this morning I destroyed the bane of my existence, my tie rod lock nuts(pics below). After I had them out I realized something cool, I'm pretty sure those were the last two bolts I had not turned at some point on my vehicle. To be fair, I didn't turn them, but they were "removed" with extreme prejudice.

Every bolt turned, woot!

THESE ****ERS WERE NOT COMING OFF( I should have taken a pic of the other side, it was so corroded that a layer of minerals had crystallized between the tie rod and the nut, it was whitish blue)


VICTORY IS MINE!


I would like to thank my angle grinder, cold chisel, and 1lb sledge for today's victory, I couldn't have done it without you!

 

Ho damn. Question is...Will it be ready for Sunday?!

 

VICTORY!!!!!! I hate stuck nuts. I am a fan of nut splitters. Even the cheap ones help out in a jam.

 

I have my hubs/knuckles in my truck as we speak, going to be a late night tonight but it will be ready for alignment tomorrow fsho. Sat I can spend adjusting dampeners to the new setup, I'm stoked.

Wow, that would be a hell of a lot easier. Kind of a angle grinder, cold chisel, sledge in one!

 

Interesting tool! I work in the auto industry and this is the first time seeing a tool like this. I guess if it ever gets to that point I wouldn't want to touch/repair that particular vehicle.

 

Most times you see them in the farming and heavy industries. Can't remember if there's a Grainger or Northern Tool out near Honolulu but worth a check in Big-Town.

Edit: I take it back!! There's one now at 2833 Paa St Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 423-0028.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/GEN...Splitter-3ZH05

 

My car lived in Utah with salted roads for 6 years, it did some serious damage to my hardware under the car, this tool would have saved me some trouble for sure.

 

I wish my work schedule didn't kill me and you didn't live so far. I'd be down to lend a hand.

I'll be in your area tomorrow, I'll see what you're up to when I've got some time.

 

Tomorrow il be in Hawaii Kai all day after the alignment, going to try and go to the meet though.

 

Oh god that looks painful.

 

They really look like thumb screws or some medieval torture device don't they?

Update on some things:

Received all my spindles.

Rear dust shields are toast, going to grind them off. There is a rust bubble on the ebrake side where the rubber grommet goes through the spindle causing the ebrake to bind on the rotors, also going to try grinding that off.

One of the front spindles has a bearing that is toast, going to get that pressed out/replaced tomorrow if John doesn't have a passengers side spindle with a good bearing. Also, the ball joint is absolutely boned in there. Going to take it to a machine shop and see if they can press it out unless anyone has a better idea. Also, had to drill out the bolt holding the ball joint in half way through and hit it with a impact gun to get the ****er out, need a new one of those.

Rick is going to love me tomorrow!

Ball joint tries so far:

Soaked in PB
Cold chisel to open it up a bit
2' pry bar to open it up a bit more
put a nut on the end of the ball joint and tried to smack that with the cold chisel to pop it out
broke my favorite punch trying to come at it through the crease in the spindle, ****
heated with a torch
froze with c02

 

Houston, we have liftoff.




Even with a terrible alignment I can feel how solid the bushings made the car, really going to be nice after the alignment tomorrow!

 

I like that car looks clean