Model A front radius rods

G

gacannon

Junior Member
Re-working the front of an old 28 PU. Many issues.
Trying to get the spring perches out. tapered nuts on the bottoms came loose, but they seem welded in place. Soaking with penetrating oils and tapping the perches but they really seem stuck. The tapers seem to have sealed it off real good but I am sure they are rusted inside holding them in place.

The perches need some work in the shop and the passengers side was never pulled down right from previous work many years ago.

Any suggestions on getting these spring perches off damage. Don't want to heat the axle or perch in fear of changing the temper on them.

Comments welcome.
 
Heat up the axle on both sides with a torch and push out the pins with an air hammer. Let it air cool, do not quench with oil or water. Some come out easier than others. The heat won't hurt anything, but if you're worried about the heat take them to a shop and have them pressed out.
 
I put some heat on them with the torch. Nothing near dull red, but smoking hot. Been using a piece of brass shafting to hit them with a 5 lb sledge and also soaking them with penetrating oil.

I have a 20 ton hydraulic press, I guess I could round up some help and use my machinery roller stands and get it under the press.

I will keep working it with heat and penetrating oil for a day or so to see if they will finally break loose. Sometimes patience pays off.

Appreciate the post

thanks

Bob,,, gacannon
 
Others have had success with your present methods and by the addition of a long bar cross-wise through the spring perch hole and twisting. Worked for me once but the press works also and be faster.
 
You should never heat the axle beyond the point where oil smokes you will have significantly lowered the strength of the axle. That is if you cross around 500* or 600*F you have gotten it too hot.

You can read about the difference in this page I put together: Front Axle Straightening

You should try a long throw automotive air hammer. Something with a 3 to 5 inch throw. An aviation one will work too (they have X designation).

You need to secure the axle such that there is no movement.
Make a flat tool by cutting the end off a chisel.
Solidly put the punch tool on the end of the shaft with a nut on it. Work the gun on it. It may not move fast. You have to let the hammer break the rust free. When I had some perches that did not want to move I decided to try the long throw automotive air hammer (4" throw) that I got by accident at a garage sale. I put the axle in my 150lb vice and pushed hard. It moved real slow, but much to my surprise it moved. The end got slightly mushroomed, but you could still get the nut on after it was fully pushed throw.

A 20 ton press is just a toy to the perch and will not have much affect.

You can also use electrolytic rust removal to help clear out the rust. You would likely need to leave it in the tank for a few days.
 
Air hammer works the best. I've tried a lot of methods and the air hammer always works, usually without any heat.
 
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