Problem with A-Arm removal for ball joint replacement

[BelAir64]

Hoping you guys can help;

I started into the front end on my 63 and have had a heck of a time getting it apart. First I could not figure a way to drive out the studs on the driver side so that I could remove the A arm, so I started trying to take out the steering shaft instead. After getting everything on the steering shaft loose I now can not seem to get it out. The only option I am seeing is now pulling the steering box. I have everything on the shaft loose and have gone back and forth with it but it lacks 1/4" coming apart and it will not budge. I guess my question is whether or not I am missing something on removing the steering shaft possibly or is removing the box just the standard way? I have a tear in the grease boot so I need to go ahead and fix that while I am there. Is there a trick to getting the shaft out?

 

[blkblk63ss]

I was able to drive the bolt's out when I went to tubular a arm's.Since you are that far with the shaft and you need to replace seal just loosen gear box and slide shaft out. I guess you are doing control bushing's also,but you could replace upper ball joint without removing a arm.

 

[BelAir64]

I ground the heads of the rivets off, but I could not get them to drive out with a punch. I was thinking on the work bench would be easier. Any tricks for getting them out on the bottom arm and other side? It would be nice if I did not have to pull them. I was going to replace bushings but they are still tight. Any tricks on those other than burning or drilling? I don't really want to do either...

The steering seal was fine until I started jacking with it, but now I get to wait a week on that to come in so I can put it back together.

 

[blkblk63ss]

Do you have spindle disconnected from upper joint?..

 

[dm62409]

I had to loosen the streering box bolts to move it just enough to remove steering shaft without completely removing box on 62 Belair.

 

[BelAir64]

Glad to know that I'm not missing something on the steering. I have the spindle off and rivet heads ground down flat.

 

[blkblk63ss]

Glad to know that I'm not missing something on the steering. I have the spindle off and rivet heads ground down flat.

Just take a small thin chisel and hammer and drive it between joint and control arm where it face out. Just make sure you have rivet head off .

 

[skipxt4]

BelAir64: You nailed it. Burning and Drilling.

 

[BelAir64]

BelAir64: You nailed it. Burning and Drilling.

Yeah, as tight as they still are I have a hard time suffering through that 8 times!

 

[BelAir64]

Just take a small thin chisel and hammer and drive it between joint and control arm where it face out. Just make sure you have rivet head off .

Thanks! I had not thought of that. How about the bottom ones with the rivets through the sides? I was thinking drilling the center out once ground would probably work...just havn't gotten that far. The top driver side tracked me pretty bad. Hopefully I can get it done this weekend.

 

[blkblk63ss]

The bottom joint's I cut off rivet head and take a punch and drive rivet back ,of course take nut off and pound it down .Have a support under control arm .

 

[BelAir64]

Thanks!