A-Arm Removal Help

[milehighassassin]

Replacing my OEM Assault A-arms with a Timbersled Narrow setup. I got all the A-Arms out fine except the right side lower. Nuts came off fine and one bolt will go about 90% out but not all the way. The other side A-arm (front) will not budge. I have tried beating on it but it won't move. Recently soaked it in some PB Blast. I have been beating on it enough that the end is marred, will plan on replacing it once out. If I put a socket in it, it will spin but won't go out at all. I assume it has corroded to to the bushing.

Anyone else have this problem. I can't really take a good hit at it since it is in the belly pan. I was thinking of maybe some heat but I hate to melt any of the bushing. Help.

 

[crashnbash]

If the bolt has corroded to the bushing, the bushing probaly isn't any good anymore anyway. I would just cut the bolt out.

 

[NapaMatt]

Keep soaking with PB blaster..

For a few days .. then come back with the BFH!

 

[milehighassassin]

I'll report back tonight. I really don't think the bushing is bad. The other bushing from the other arms were fine. There is an inner and outer bushing. The inner is metal/steel, the outer is rubber/plastic. The bolt I assume is corroded to the inner bushing and they are both spinning within the outer bushing.

I think I might be able to apply a little heat if the PB blast doesn't work.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

MH...if you can get at it with a airhammer, it will probably come loose..pretty hard to do with a bfh....otherwise you may have to cut the bolt on both ends and pry the arm/bushing out and replace.....

 

[richracer1]

I guess worst case is to remove the nose plastic to gain better access to that lower front bolt. I was lucky when I did mine last year, the bolts came out easily. If I take them off for any reason, I always smear a little grease on the bolts and the metal inserts when putting them back together - do the same thing with the ski mount bolts.

 

[milehighassassin]

MH...if you can get at it with a airhammer, it will probably come loose..pretty hard to do with a bfh....otherwise you may have to cut the bolt on both ends and pry the arm/bushing out and replace.....

I don't have an air hammer but I do have one of those craftsman angle nailers. I bet I can put a smaller bolt in there and use that. I am hoping the PB blast loosened things up. The belly pan is an option but It will be a bit of a pain since the plastic is riveted on and there are no skis on the sled. Hard to tip over and control it with no skis.

 

[richracer1]

Off topic, but important, when did you buy your Barkbuster kit? Reason I ask is look at your spindles, if the are milled really deep, call T-sled and see if they'll switch them out for the newer stronger spindles. Here's a pic of the older vs newer spindles and the thread about them.

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2944209&postcount=16

 

[milehighassassin]

Thanks for the info. I actually have the older spindle. They are welded no milled.

 

[milehighassassin]

turns out the a-arm is a little bent. Where it T's into the chassis and bushing the weld is a little broke/bent. Hard to see but that explains the stuck bolt. Planning on picking up and air chisel tonight.

 

[milehighassassin]

Air chissel is the greatest tool invented! Or at least this week! Haha! $15 at Harbor Freight, ten seconds per bolt and we are money!

Now I need to get the New A-Arms in. They are tight, might have to tweak things a little.

 

[NWGooser]

Most aftermarket A arms are jig made. If they don't fit right in, check your mounts real well before tweaking the new a arms. They should fit right in.

 

[milehighassassin]

I wasn't going to tweak the arms. I was going to tweak the sled. I'm sure it's a little twisted from the "fun". haha


I remember replacing the mickey mouse ears on the front of my flying nun on the REV I had. I was using shop/wood clamps to twist, pry, stretch, and tweak the chassis back to the proper spots to get the pre-drilled holes to lineup.