Need "HELP" A-Arms wont drop

[Turk]

Working on front lift and all is going well so far except that I cant get the a-arms to pop off the lower strut towers.Have tried hitting with a rubber mallet as well as prying on them it a little.Yes I have removed the bolt and cotter pin but they are not budging.I have started taking pictures and will be posting them soon.

[Donut Slayer]

Hit it with a bigger hammer. Just kiddin of course.

[Rubberdown]

I use a pickle fork, you can probably get one at a local automotive supply store with a "loan a tool" program for free for the night or i have also been told to just wack it at the side with a ball peen hammer to shake it lose.

[Dirtbmw20]

Slayer is exactly right. Hit it with a bigger hammer, and not a rubber hammer either. I use a 3lb sledge hammer, and I'm not exaggerating. Of course if you WANT to do it right, you can go buy the pickler/fork tool Paul is talking about but I have never used or needed one.

Put the nut back on the ball joint, do not tighten it, you are only putting it on there to keep from hitting the threads in case you miss the arm and smack the stud. Once the nut is back on the ball joint, smack the shit out of the SIDE of the A-arm right where the stud goes through, it might take 15-20 hits and it might take 2 hits but it WILL come off. If that doesn't make sense let me know and I'll go take a pic for ya. Once it comes off, you're gonna be amazed (and pissed) at how easy it came off.

[Dirtbmw20]

Here ya go Turk, I went and took some pics for ya anyways. The first pic is just a pic of the control arm itself..................
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h260/Dirtbmw20/PoPoPics013.jpg


In this pic, you want to hit where my finger is pointing. I use a 3lb sledge hammer and I knock the crap out of it, just be sure to put the nut on the ball joint in case you miss, you won't bugger up the threads on the ball joint stud.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h260/Dirtbmw20/PoPoPics014.jpg

[cd]

be careful with the pickle fork, it doesn't take a whole lot on some of those ball joints to hurt them when your putting force at the wrong place, I use about a 2-3 pound bronze hammer, one good whack on the a-arm in the secret place it its off and you couldn't find where i hit it.

[cd]

I used to hit their but I have found going back about where your thumb is on the tube works a heck of alot easier and if i don't get it within the first two hits then i start doing where your pointing and getting out the prybars

[Dirtbmw20]

Between working on BOTH bikes, I've had them off countless times and I've never had to hit it more than a few times. I tried hitting farther back where you're referring to but that part of the control arm is hollow and I felt like I was fixing to snap the control arm, I just didn't feel comfortable hitting it there, but the CORRECT hammer makes a good difference too, having a bronze hammer is alot better than the plain ole steel sledge. I don't own a hammer, I own a 3lb sledge and that's it,lol. You should see me trying to hit a nail in the wall with that thing. You gotta tap nails "lightly",lol.

[cd]

its a deadblow to boot

[Turk]

Ok I got the right side a-arm to drop not long after I posted this thread with a small pry bar and it came off without much force.I fought with the other side for a while and didnt get it off last night.We have a pickler fork here I can borrow so i'm gonna get my hands on that today.I should have the other side down this afternoon.Gonna grind the towers down here at work on friday in the shop and hope to have back together by friday night...we'll see.


I'll see about getting some pictures up today or tomorrow.

[Dirtbmw20]

Good to hear ya got it Turk.

[Turk]

First time is always a fun one.I dont mind having to learning how to do it while i'm doing it for the first time.Dirtbmw20 Thanks for posting the "how to" pictures because if I didnt have access to a pickle fork i'd be hammering where you showed me in the pictures.Once I get the other tower off today i'm gonna clean them up and get them marked off for grinding them down.

One thing I'm wondering is what type of grease should I be using when I put the axles back in the hub?? I assume that i'll need to grease them up before I put them back into the hub.

[Dirtbmw20]

No, do not use grease. You want to use anti-seize lubricant. Apply the anti-seize generously on the splines of the axle, both ends, and also inside the front diff where the axles slide in, and also put some inside the front hub that slides back over the axle. Anti-seize will be a silver or copper lubricant, it is brushed on with a little applicator brush that will come with it and you can get it at any auto parts store. Do not put the axles back in without useing it, you will play hell getting them out next time if you don't use it.

[Turk]

No, do not use grease. You want to use anti-seize lubricant


Ok thats what I wanted to know,i'll be off to the auto parts store on lunch.If I take the other end of the axle out of the front differential will I be able to put it back in without any problem?? I ask this because I always thought that if it came out of the front differential it was very difficult to put back in.

[Dirtbmw20]

No, it's twice as easy to get them back in then it is to get them out. They will slide right back in, especially once you put some anti-seize lube on it. They are real easy to get back in.

[Turk]

Good to know that.I was so worried that there would be a problem if I took the other end of the axle out of the front diff.I dont remember where I read it but I think it was in another lift kit's instructions that said if the axle came out of the front diff there would be trouble getting it back it,but I think thier directions were for a different method to install a front lift.

[Turk]

Ok I'll be loading picture's up to picture trail today and will get them posted.All is apart and tommorow i'll grind the towers down at work,would do today but we are off and the college is closed.I think it's the only time i've ever been pissed about a paid day off.The pictures i'll be posting today are pictures of the "tear down process".

Well the pickle fork wasnt available for me to borrow so I used the ballpeen hammer and hit right where Dirtbmw20 showed me in the pictures he posted and wala after just 4 wacks that a-arm popped right out.Thanks for all the advice and help you guys have given me so far.I might just be asking for help again during the "put it back together" part...we'll see.


Before:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/261539723.jpg

[Turk]

The start of the tear down-pics are not in any order

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/277899033.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/277900166.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/277897089.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/277898357.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/277900168.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/1427015/16921545/277898359.jpg

[Dirtbmw20]

Glad you were able to get the other control arm off Turk. Once you hit it in the right spot, it comes off easier than you thought don't it ??? You know we're here to help if you have any problems going back together, just holla.

[Turk]

Once you hit it in the right spot, it comes off easier than you thought don't it ???

Yeah it did come off really easy.Glad I know of that little trick now and thanks again for the help.I wish I would of ordered some new springs as well while it's apart but when I do i'll get to take all apart again.I'm finding that working on the popo is pretty fun.