Seized top arm

[The Wing Commander]

Okay, has anyone ever had to deal with a seized top arm? Stu and I have successfully done one side, but when we came to the passenger side, the arm is seized and no amount of persuasion will release it. Anyone ever sorted this one out? Any good ideas? I am desperate!

[Stuboy]

it is indeed very very very stuck... indeed!

[shambles]

last resort, narrow cutting disc, remember shaft is made of hardened steel. Remove thrust washers first, may give you room to wiggle around to get it out.

[The Wing Commander]

Can't move the shaft to get the thrust washer out. No wiggling possible, as it is stuck very hard indeed! I think cutting at the joint where the rear thrust washer is located may end up freeing it, as I think the thrust washer is rusted to the shaft. The arm has some movement in it, but will not move along the length of the shaft.I don't care how many cutting discs I get through, that mother is coming off there!

[shambles]

Good luck, had to do this many years ago and had to trash a Hydro top arm! At the time did use a hand blade for some of the cutting so as to reduce the swarf going everywhere.

[my mini's mini]

I had this problem, Jeff. If I remember correctly I had the subframe out so I had the room to beat it with a 14lb sledge hammer. I flared the end of the shaft so making it impossible to remove the nut. So I had to grind if off flush with the subfame and then drift it out.

If the top arm shaft has seized, then it has probably warn the hole in the sub-frame into an elongated hole. Since the shaft doesn't rotated in the roller bearing it was rotated in the sub-frame hole and probably warn it bigger. This is what happen to me. I then welded the hole up and redrilled it. If this has happened to you then you might have to drop the subframe out (worst case of course).

[The Wing Commander]

Oh God, this gets worse! Well Ian, I am going to try to get some grease into it tomorrow, then heat it up a bit, then see if I can shock into movement, then if that does not work I am going at it with an angle grinder. I hope the hole has no elongated. This is a nightmare job. All for the want of a bit of grease by the previous owner (and me obviously!)

[The Wing Commander]

I am told the only reliable way to remove it is hacksaw, as you cannot get an angle grinder into the space. Well, this is bad news, but I will get to it...

[Stuboy]

did you try the seperator Jeff?

My only other thought was to drift it back, cut it off... drift it back some more, cut that bit off... but you're talkin an inch at a time so might take a while! you might need a few hacksaw blades for that!!!

[Nick]

Jeff,
When are you starting this as I can get you a recip saw with blades,if this is any help to you.
let me know
Cheers
Nick