Rear Drop Links being PITA

[JamesT5]

This morning, I spent over 2 hours trying to take off 2 x 19mm bolts from the drivers side droplink thread and got absolutely nowhere. I tried a blow torch, penetrating fluid, a hacksaw, a drill and the things just won't budge. So......

Off I went to Homebase and got myself an Angle Grinder, I thought if these don't come off I'm doing it the Martin Peachey way! :D :tank: :mgshoot: :mischievo

I'll update you all later......

[abdul]

Any pictures

[JamesT5]

Any pictures

I'll be posting some up later on mate. ;)

[abdul]

Thanks would like to see what they look like

[graemewelch]

Get the 1mm cut discs. Makee quick work of them

[M-R-P]

I wouldn't recommend 1mm disks for a novice...

they can be a bit shatter-y

[Harvey]

Oxygen & Acetylenic makes light work of them.

[stribo]

I wouldn't recommend 1mm disks for a novice...

they can be a bit shatter-y

Shattery's fun, adds a bit of excitement to a boring job.;)

[JamesT5]

I've had a guts full today, I really have. The ruddy drop link on the drivers side (rear) is still attached and is now hanging down loose from the top of the large mount. It took me about an hour of angle grinding the lower bolt to finally get it out and I can't angle grind the top one off because the control arm and large metal mount are in the way. I've started to hacksaw through the top thread and got almost half way but the hacksaw blade is blunt as a stone so I'll have to get another one tomorrow and keep trying.

I haven't even started on the passenger side yet - what another ball ache today. Something else has cropped up today as well, I'll post another thread on that now.

Anyway, some pictures (sorry, they're a little blurred).....

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011617_zpseba9ab87.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011617_zpseba9ab87.jpg.html)

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011618_zps795d0493.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011618_zps795d0493.jpg.html)

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011619_zpsca7d525b.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011619_zpsca7d525b.jpg.html)

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011620_zps458656cc.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011620_zps458656cc.jpg.html)

:wallbash: :hbomb:

[JamesT5]

Back at work tomorrow night as well so all this will have to be done before I go to work. Nightmare or what!

[M-R-P]

Instead of trying to cut the bolt/nut off James, cut along the bolt and cut the nut in half length-ways. The nut will then just knock off and you can then pull the bolt out.

[JamesT5]

Instead of trying to cut the bolt/nut off James, cut along the bolt and cut the nut in half length-ways. The nut will then just knock off and you can then pull the bolt out.

Good thinking maestro, I'll give that a go!

[M-R-P]

Thank me tomorrow, if you don't have a face full of shrapnel lol.

[graemewelch]

Theres a skill to being good with a angle grinder. Ask pedro :uglyhamme. But seriously be carful when getting into tight spots with grinders. Ive been working in the welding and fabrication game for a lot of years and seen some nasty injuries from grinders. If the blade jams itll kick.

[M-R-P]

Theres a skill to being good with a angle grinder. Ask pedro :uglyhamme. But seriously be carful when getting into tight spots with grinders. Ive been working in the welding and fabrication game for a lot of years and seen some nasty injuries from grinders. If the blade jams itll kick.

Yep, a lad at work took a 9" Fein grinder to the face, after it kicked up at him. Luckily he was wearing a full face shield but it still split his bottom lip.

[stribo]

Yep seen the pics on inductions at work, luckily we only use Stihl 'disc cutters' which will only take a limb off. ;)

[JamesT5]

I'm being fairly gentle with it and trying not to twist the blade or get it jammed (easier said than done). I'm also using a full face mask that I got from the chainsaw shop and some gloves to protect my hands from sparks and light debris.

[V70 Graham]

Do I need an angle grinder ?

[M-R-P]

Do I need an angle grinder ?

No.

[graemewelch]

Yep, a lad at work took a 9" Fein grinder to the face, after it kicked up at him. Luckily he was wearing a full face shield but it still split his bottom lip.

ive had a 9" grinder kick on me a few times. luckily i was wearing a full screen at the time or else it could of been nasty. even a 4.5" is bad enough when they kick. a lad i work with cut the tendons in his arm doing a simple cut that he carried out every day. heavy engineering is a dangerous game, its one im hoping im never going to have to do again.

[M-R-P]

ive had a 9" grinder kick on me a few times. luckily i was wearing a full screen at the time or else it could of been nasty. even a 4.5" is bad enough when they kick. a lad i work with cut the tendons in his arm doing a simple cut that he carried out every day. heavy engineering is a dangerous game, its one im hoping im never going to have to do again.

Try having an 88cc husqvarna chainsaw with a 54" bar kick at you. Luckily, it came straight back at me handle first and just knocked me on my arse. Lots of people aren't so lucky. If they kick upwards, those orange helmets don't stop them.

[graemewelch]

Try having an 88cc husqvarna chainsaw with a 54" bar kick at you. Luckily, it came straight back at me handle first and just knocked me on my arse. Lots of people aren't so lucky. If they kick upwards, those orange helmets don't stop them.


i can imagine they kick back very hard. my chainsaw is just a baby one with a 18" chain. big enough for me. dont still saws spin in the other direction to stop them kick back. they kick towards your knackers instead. i dont know which is worse

[JamesT5]

I've done it, the old rear drop links are off and the new ones are now fitted but what a monumental PITA they were to get off. All the crap on the road and probably a lack of lube when the garage fitted the old ones meant they ceased after just a few turns and the Allan H5 key fitting inside the taper end rounded off. Thankfully the new HD ones have a 17mm spanner fitting next to the ball joints so I won't experience the same problem again in the future.

Anyway, it took an eternity to cut the damn things off and unfortunately, due to the fact that the angle was awkward and the 'cataracts view' out of my full face mask, it made it hard to see what was going on. I ended up partially cutting the mount/bracket, something I have flashed over with some black paint for now to keep the rust away and I'll repair with some chemical metal at some point.

Right, photos.......

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011627_zps84c3b6be.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011627_zps84c3b6be.jpg.html)

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011623_zps9ac04e8d.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011623_zps9ac04e8d.jpg.html)

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011624_zpsf688795e.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011624_zpsf688795e.jpg.html)

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011626_zps64d06460.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011626_zps64d06460.jpg.html)

By the way, these are up for grabs if anyone wants them, I'm open to offers..... ;) :hilarious

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s562/_JamesT5/P1011632_zps69868338.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/_JamesT5/media/P1011632_zps69868338.jpg.html)

:beer: :beer:

[M-R-P]

Good effort mate.

If you know anybody with a welder and some skill James, get them to fill those cuts in the ARB and mount at some point. It will probably be fine but for peace of mind...

[LeeT5]

Dealer replaced both of mine last year. Took em an hour and charged me £75! Bargain! It was hard work drinking two cups of free coffee and salivating over the new Volvo's in the showroom. :redface:

[graemewelch]

job well done but you need some practice with a angle grinder lol. im changing mine one day this week if i get time. along with the rear shocks.

[JamesT5]

Yes, first time with grinder was hard work and pretty scary for me but the alternative was a set of rear links that weren't going to budge for love nor money. I'll try filling the cuts with some chemical metal, I doubt they'll flag up on the MOT and if they do it will probably be an advisory at worst.

[V70 Graham]

When is the MOT James ?

[JamesT5]

When is the MOT James ?

Monday! I've still got to get the ABS pump swapped over this weekend or it will fail. :scared: