Remove Steering kunckle bolts?

[pokesmot]

hey,

I'm having some trouble getting the bolts removed that attach the steering kunckle to the strut.

I got both of the nuts removed fine, but I cant push the bolts out.

in the Haynes manual page 10-6 it says the bolts are splined and must be driven out with a hammer. I have tried heating the kunckle with a torch and hammering them out but they wont budge at all.

any ideas?

[Coondog]

You need a bigger hammer. About 12lbs should do it.

[rixGAphx]

Get some penetrating solvent called [edit: 'PB-Blaster'] at Ace Hardware (and some autoparts stores).
It's the industrial version of WD-40.

Repeated application over a couple days is the best way to get deep penetration.

Put an old cheap Grade 5 nut on the end of the bolt as you pound, to avoid damaging the threads at the bolt tip.
And make certain the vehicle is well-supported; it's embarassing when you hammer something so hard that the vehicle is knocked to the ground :eek:
(not that I have ever done that... :D )

Heating or freezing won't help. The heat will just transfer from one piece to the other very quickly, and there will be no resultant dimensional change between hole and bolt.

Good luck.
-Rick

[Andrew21]

You can buy a ball joint press. Look at this link: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38335

My father and I use this all the time to get the bolts out. Put the hollow adapter in one end and use the c-clamp to push out the bolt. No more smashing the bolts with a brass hammer..its effortless!

A-