Spindle removal gonna be the end of me.

[justaZcarguy]

Ok, pass me the whiskey.

I am having a problem getting the spindles out of the Traverse link to switch over my strut assembly. The shop manual simply says to "remove the spindle" by sliding it out. Yea, sure slide it out, NO PROBLEM. And yes, I did remove the outer lock nuts and the lock bolt from the middle and I can't get this thing to budge for love nor money.

Before I make the execfutive decision to drink myself to death over this , can anyone help?

And by the way happy Easter.

[2ManyZs]

Well, mine came out of my 71 pretty easily (?) so maybe I can give you a couple hints. Before I started trying to take mine out I sprayed the pin with WD-40 and let it soak in for an hour, spray it into the wedge bolt hole too. I then double nutted one end of the pin and used a wrench to turn the pin to make sure it was loose, they usually are corroded inside the bushing sleeves. Then I took a ball peen hammer and a punch and punched it out. If it is very stubborn try not to hammer on the end of the pin (even with a nut on it) or you'll end up mushrooming the end of the pin and also ruin the nut. I used a small brass drift I had that was a little smaller than the end of the pin and tapped it out. Once it moved it slid right out.

If you have new pins to put in you don't have to be quite so careful beating the old one out, but if you mushroom the end too much it won't slide thru the bushing sleeve.

Try soaking and turning the pin, if it won't turn it isn't going to slide out. When you put it back together be sure to lube the pin as well as the bushings, this will prevent any squeeks and it will make it a whole lot easier if it needs to be taken apart in the future.

[justaZcarguy]

Thanks sir, I'll spray it down. luckily, this is a complete parts rear-end that was off a 240 that was set up with a better suspension, so I'm just switching things over. So, yes, I do have the one on the car untouched. Hopefully it goes a bit easier with that one or it will be a trip to Nissan.

These springs are blue, much thicker than stock, less coils...I believe that they are Motorsports. Has the rear bar also.

Thanks again! It's nice to know that us Z guys stick together!

[2ManyZs]

Luckily my 71 was a garage queen for most of its life, so that probably helped make mine easier, and it was the first time I had done the job so I guess I got lucky. You could try using an impact gun to turn the spindle if you have one. The problem is in the bushing sleeves, that is where the spindle will be rusted or corroded, there is very little clearance between the spindle and the sleeve so let it soak for a while, sooner or later it will break loose.

[justaZcarguy]

In the event that I just can't get this thing to budge, what are the options / worst case scenario. I can cut this one but then how do I remove the piece from the strut assy? I've let it soak all mornin', even applied a little heat, hit it, cussed at it and know I'm ready to get a priest to exercise the demon. All I need is the strut and spring and in doing my homework, than doesn't look a whole lot easier.

It's a good thing I love Z's soo much, I'm ready to use five gallons and a match. :mad:

Pass me the tylenol.

Anyone feel free to phone, 503-939-2117.

Have a great Easter!

[2ManyZs]

Hmm, well, if all you want to do is take the spring and strut off this one to put on yours I'd say take the spring and strut and forget the spindle for now.

If it has the blue springs, they are a bit shorter than stock, but it still would be a good idea to use a spring compressor as they are stiffer. If you don't have a spring compressor, try this little trick I have used. Get 3 large diameter hose clamps, about 2 1/2 or 3 inches, and loop them around at least 3 coils of the spring and space them out evenly around the spring. You should be able to tighten them enough to take most of the pressure of the spring off the upper mount, then just use a 14mm socket to take of the nut off the top of the strut. Then to get the collar off the strut you will need a good sized set of slip joint pliers. They can be a PITA to get off at times, but it will be a lot simpler to do this than to fight the spindle.