For those of you who are keeping up to date on this saga, here's the latest
installment:
Finally got the driver's side trailing arm off. I used two jigsaw blades
to cut off the head of the inboard bolt which was inserted backwards. I'm
told they're inserted that way by the factory and, if you can get the
trailing arm brackets off the frame, no problem. Yes problem, if the DPO
welds the bracket and bracket bolts together!!! Passenger side
disassembled in 20 minutes all up. What a pleasure to do this when all the
bolts come off as designed!
After inspecting all around I've determined the outboard driver side
u-joint is bad (seized in one direction so probably no bearings left),
driver's side damper link is worn out and trailing arm bushings are
*extremely* soft. I'll replace all of it including the nylocs. I removed
the half shafts by separating the halves which makes life *much* easier,
just remembering to keep everything wrapped up to keep 'em clean
afterwards.
Newest problem is trying to get out the bad u-joint. I've worked up to a
15 lb sledgehammer but nothing moves. I'm using an equal sized steel nut
as a 'drift' but everything is seized. Tried heating everything up but no
luck. I suppose, if I could cool everything it would work, but no room in
the freezer ;-) Ideas??? PLEASE???
Once that's done it'll be on to the bushings and reassembly, hopefully in
time for Sunday's Fun Rally!
Mike Himelfarb.
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