I began installing my FRPP A-arms this weekend, and I planned to remove the springs using the "MFE method" of pulling the spring out of the "inside". This method is great, as it saves the hassle of messing with spring compressors. HOWEVER, there is a "catch", and something you folks in "road salt" areas should consider.
My car is by no means a "rust bucket", but I had one hell of a time removing the front A-arm bolts. It seems that the bolt and the inner sleeve of the A-arm bushing had rusted together, making it damn hard to get the bolt out. I struggled with this for 3 hours. Given the position of the bolt, it is hard to get a good swing to hammer it through the bushing. I ended up moving it a bit with a big sledge, and I had to use a tie rod fork under the bolt head to hammer and pry it all of the way out (I plan to replace the bolts anyway).
Does anyone have a better way to remove these bolts? This job would have been a piece of cake had I not run into this problem.
My car is by no means a "rust bucket", but I had one hell of a time removing the front A-arm bolts. It seems that the bolt and the inner sleeve of the A-arm bushing had rusted together, making it damn hard to get the bolt out. I struggled with this for 3 hours. Given the position of the bolt, it is hard to get a good swing to hammer it through the bushing. I ended up moving it a bit with a big sledge, and I had to use a tie rod fork under the bolt head to hammer and pry it all of the way out (I plan to replace the bolts anyway).
Does anyone have a better way to remove these bolts? This job would have been a piece of cake had I not run into this problem.