Spindle trouble

[jeffwharton]

I'm attempting to replace on the bushings on my '73 240. I'm almost finished with the front, but I'm having problems with the rear control arm. How the Hell do you get the spindle pin out? Is there some trick? If you can help, please be as detailed as possible...this is my first attempt at working on a suspension.

[SledZ]

I just did mine, one came out with a little hammer action the other did not so I had it pressed out. I sacrificed a lug nut to get the one that moved out. If I had to do it again I would have gotton both of them pressed out. much easier!

[jeffwharton]

Thanks guys...I feel a little better now that I know it wasn't just general buffoonery on my part.

[Marty Rogan]

Jeff,

Do yourself a HUGE favor and buy the spindle pin tool here: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=6901

Darrel is real nice guy too.

I have heard horror stories of guys spending an entire day to get 1 pin out. I used this tool a couple of weeks ago. It took 15 minutes for the first one and 10 minutes for the second pin. But make sure that you have the spindle pin lock bolt removed from the center of the pin, before you try to remove it.

Good Luck,

Marty

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Marty Rogan

Jeff,

Do yourself a HUGE favor and buy the spindle pin tool here: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=6901

Darrel is real nice guy too.

I have heard horror stories of guys spending an entire day to get 1 pin out. Good Luck,Marty

I haven't used the tool, but I can atest to spending an afternoon trying to remove one pin. Then an overnight SOAK in WD40, then most of another day trying to remove thatone pin. Finally spent $50 to have both pins pressed out.

Buy the tool, you will be time AND money ahead.

Just my $.02

Carl

[blitzkraig]

Just out of curiousity. Is it hard to get the spindle and bearing back in the hub? I got the bearings pressed on the spindle but I want to try and hammer in the spindle and the other bearing.

[Bambikiller240]

The spindle that we are refering to in this thread is the PIN that connects the Lower wishbone (A-Arm) to the strut housing. The part that you are refering to is the "STUB AXLE".

I do not know how difficult it is to install the stub axle. (I haven't needed to do that job yet)

[blitzkraig]

Oops...hehe....I was just lucky with my car then. The spindle pins just slid out with a few hammer hits on mine. The painful procedure described sounded more like the axle stub removal. Sorry

[Walter Moore]

I have searched the forums (too late...) looking for information on removing the spindle pins that connect the rear struts to their lower control arm. It sounds like I am in trouble here.

I tried to follow the Haynes manual, and when I got to the part where it said to "pull" the spindle pin out it would not come, so I tried to convince it with a 12 pound sledge hammer...

To make a long story short, I have now completely snapped off the entire threaded end on one side, and have literally beaten the other side's threads off. I heated the lower spindle housing with a torch and got it so hot that I caught the bushings on fire, and that stupid pin just sits there laughing at me. :mad:

So, is my next step a hacksaw/angle grinder, or is there a better way?

There was some discussion of removing the entire lower control arm. How difficult is that? How likely am I to end up with even more broken fasteners in that attempt?

[2ManyZs]

You only have four bolts holding the inner control arm mounts, those usually do not break. Other than that, it's just a matter of unhooking the sway bar, e-brake cable housing, and brake line, half shaft, and it's off.

Best bet in your predicament would be to have it pressed out at a machine shop with a good press. They might find it easier to use a hacksaw or sawzall to cut the spindle pin and then press out the pin from each piece individually(just enough room between the bottom of the strut housing and control arm), but I'd take the whole thing and see if they can do it that way first.

[Darrel]

Just make sure you have the lock bolt out, then take the hacksaw or sawsall and cut on either side of the center section. Check with Courtesy Nissan for new spindle pins. They are about $25 each. With you being in Indiana doesn't help with all the salt they use on the roads. Even the tool I made would have a hard time with that.

[2ManyZs]

Chloe at MidwestZ has a complete kit for the spindle pins with pins, nuts, washers, and the lock pins for about 80 bucks last time I looked.