Steering arm removal

[Dryad]

Just bought a pair of new swivel pins (king pins) and need to transfer the steering arms from the old pins to the new ones. My guess is that it's quite difficult to do without ruining them. Is there a way of doing this without damaging them, or should I have bought two new steering arms as well...

[Mogwai]

these work just support it firmly in a vice
http://www.thorhammer.com/Hammers/Copper/

Failing that if its extremely tight your local garage may be able to put it on their press

[rayofleamington]

Apply heat, use big vice and very big hammer...
Usually this will dome the end of the thread, so it is possible to remove the domed part of the o/d with a grinder and still leave enough thread for full engagement of the nut.

[Matt]

I did this yesterday....

Put swivel in vice, left nut on the end and beat 7 shades of **** out of the end with a lump hammer. Came free after about 5 blows

I suppose of if the swivel is scrap you could always carefully cut in to it almost up to the taper of the steering arm and split the swivel using a big hammer and cold chisel

[mike.perry]

I have always bought my swivel pins c/w steering arms

[MarkyB]

If you are going to beat on something threaded like this that has a Nylock or castellated nut then take the nut off and reverse it.
Wind it on until it is flush with the threaded bit and beat away taking care that the hammer strikes nice and parallel to the "face".

The stronger the support for the piece is the better effect your blows will have.
Don't be shy, short SHARP shocks will win the day.

[Dryad]

I did this yesterday....

Put swivel in vice, left nut on the end and beat 7 shades of **** out of the end with a lump hammer. Came free after about 5 blows

This is the method I used, only I had to use 9 shades of ****! It ruined the nut but the thread on the arm is fine. Cheers for all the suggestions, chaps.

[aseriesade2]

Always remember wear eye protection when hammering (i hate to nag everyone)!! But I speak from recent experience, cost me a trip up the hospital last month to have my eye frozen and a metal splinter removed from my eye not a nice thing I can assure you (i wouldn't recommend it), all I was doing was hammering some seized parts apart !!

[Dryad]

Good advice re: eye protection. I've never had metal splinters in the eye (yet!) but many years ago I had 'arc eye' which is very painful - imagine having undiluted shampoo put in both eyes and you have an idea what it's like.

On a different subject; I damaged the nuts for the steering arms whilst removing them, but I'm having trouble locating replacements from the usual Minor parts suppliers. Anyone know what type/size I need, or where to get replacements?

[charlie_morris_minor]

i agree with using eye protection but be careful.. i knocked the underside of my car with the goggles, as I forgot i was wearing them. knocking the goggles them moved them on my face and dislodged some underseal which went yes.. straight into my right eye.. only to be told by three doctors down at A&E that I should really wear eye protection when working under a car!

[M25VAN]

On a different subject; I damaged the nuts for the steering arms whilst removing them, but I'm having trouble locating replacements from the usual Minor parts suppliers. Anyone know what type/size I need, or where to get replacements?

ESM have them listed as 1/2" UNF

[Dryad]

On a different subject; I damaged the nuts for the steering arms whilst removing them, but I'm having trouble locating replacements from the usual Minor parts suppliers. Anyone know what type/size I need, or where to get replacements?

ESM have them listed as 1/2" UNF

Thanks - I couldn't see them when I looked at the ESM site, probably because I was expecting them to be under Steering when they are actually under Front Suspension.