Hi Guys

Anyone found an easy way to get these out ?

went to replace the passenger side hub with a refurb with new bearing and the upper ball joint is goosed. went to take off the arm (I have a new ball joint in my spares pile) and cannot get the bolt to come out.

Looks like the bushes are past there best as well so will change them out at the same time. Anyone got any recommendations for the bushes, been looking at the powerflex ones but are they any better than than the standard bushes ?

Thanks

 

Mate you gunna have fun getting that bolt out, took me 2 days of heat, hammering and release agent before it let go both sides. Some people chop the wishbone off then attack the bolt.

 

Figured that it was going to be a b***h.

Are there any easy jobs on these cars , haven't found any so far

 

Been there, done that ..... and life is too short!

A few years of UK rain and road salt can make the Fulcrum Bolt seize in both ends of the Cross Member and the Bush sleeves on either side seize onto the Fulcrum Bolt. When this happens, it takes days of alternate heat and hammering to free them and the Fulcrum Bolt is usually scrap at the end of it.

On the last five XK8's I've done, three have been seized. When they don't start to move after a bit 'persuasion', I source a used spare and then cut them off.

In addition to new Bushes and Ball Joint, I also replace the chrome washers as they generally have surface corrosion.

Opinions differ on Powerflex versus OE. My preference is for OE but definitely not aftermarket equivalents.

Graham

 

Bolt appears to turn ok. I removed the nut by holding the nut stationary and turning the bolt but it may have seized on the bush sleeves if they are free to turn.

Space seems to be tight to get at it, is it better to remove the wheel arch lining or does that make know difference.

 

Yes take the liners out otherwise I don't think there is enough room to remove the bolt.

 

+1

Remove the liner.

Compare the working space you are looking at with this:



Graham

 

You can use a drift punch, or even a socket extension, to slowly tap out the fulcrum bolt. Use lots of PB Blaster and when you make some progress, tap the bolt back and forth (in and out) while turning the head with a wrench. You are trying to get the penetrating oil into the areas which are seized together.

 

thanks for the tips guys. looks like it will have to be next weekends labour as i doubt if an hour or 2 will do it.

 

thats that job done after only about 3 hours - actually came out relatively easy using a long punch and relatively gentle tapping with a hammer and penetrating oil. Now to try and get the caliper carrier bolts undone on the old hub - they really don't want to shift.

 

Ditto on the PB Blaster - it works FAR better than other penetrating oils I have tried such as Liquid Wrench. I do not know if it is available in the UK - but worth checking.

 

I've searched many times for both PB Blaster and Kroil in the UK but couldn't find a supplier.

There's a few US suppliers will ship to the UK but it makes it very expensive.

Graham

 

PB Blaster is a pressurized aerosol can, so there might be shipping issues.

 

I see you can get it from Amazon.UK for, gasp, 130 pounds per gallon: