I can't remove the transverse pivot bolt

[Zmefeelme]

I was replacing the rear struts on my 71 240. I removed the locking pin from the transverse pivot bolt, but I cannot get the bolt loose. I have tried penetrating fluid, heat and brute force. I have moved the bolt about 1/4". I have totally ruined the threads on the bolt so I have to get it out and replace it.

Any suggestions?

[Sailor Bob]

Beandip

[beandip]

Sorry but now that you have destroyed the spindle pin ends you have to take the whole mess out and find a shop that will take on the job of pressing out the pin. No spindle pin pull I know of can work now. I loaned out my two pullers to a Z driver in NJ and he broke them both. I don't have a working puller at present anyway. Gary

[=Enigma=]

That sucks Beandip. That puller worked like a charm for me, but I still had good threads on one side of the pin after my initial attempts to hammer it out.

Zmefeelme, if you still have some clean threads, there's someone on here who sells these pullers. Just search for "spindle pin" and you'll find lots of threads on this. If not, it's time to go to the machine shop like Beandip said. It'll be well worth the $$ to have them do this for you.

[trykflyr]

Try this link http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/suspension/rearend/index.html

I have the same question under the suspension and steering threads.

[Sailor Bob]

That's a good set of instructions, I used them, but didn't do my outer bushings. All the rest works pretty good though.

[Walter Moore]

The SawZAll approach mentioned in another thread somewhere around here... worked for me.

Cut the pin in the gap on either side of the strut. Then you can remove the strut from the car as if the pin was removed. The pin fragments will come out of the lower control arms easily, but you will have to take the strut to a machine shop to have the remainder of the pin pressed out of the strut housing. The shop I used said they had a hard time getting it out with a 30 ton press.

By the way, you may want to check the rest of your rear suspension anyway. I tried to hammer out the pin on the left rear side of my Z. I was pounding forward as I recall, and now years later when I took it in for an alignment, they tell me that everything is good, except that the left rear wheel has over 0.5 degrees of toe angle. I assume that the pounding must have bent something.

I wonder if I could just "adjust" it again with my sledge hammer.... No, I think I will leave well enough alone for now. I don't drive the car that often, and I never race it. At worst it will likely just wear the tires out quicker.