Removing Front Spring Perches

B

BashawT

Senior Member
Hey guys I've been soaking my front spring perches with PB Blast for a couple of days now and they still won't come off. I ended up slightly mushrooming one of them because I forgot to thread the nut on before pounding it :o

Any suggestions? I know these are a real pain sometimes
 
Long throw air hammer with a blunt end. Your common short air hammer will not do much, but one with a 3 or 4" throw will have some power. The automotive type is better, but the aircraft 3X will work too. I did some with a 4" automotive.

You need to have the axle secured so that is can not move! I have a very large and heavy vice I can clamp the axle and not have to worry. You may have to do something else. A little movement takes away energy.

Put the nut one and put your weight behind the hammer and pull the trigger. It will move very slowly. Once you get close to the axle you will have to take off the nut.

Do not heat the axle- ever! it ruins the temper of the axle and makes it significantly weaker.
 
secure the perches in a heavy vise and grab onto the axle,using it for leaverage and turn it on the perches,one at a time of course after they have been soaked.try not to use heat on the axle if you dont have to.sounds like your perches may be toast.good luck.
 
My experience is to drill them out if soaking and beating has reached the critical "it's mushrooming" stage. Even twisting will end in a ruined bolt. They either come loose right off or it's all about replacing them. Cost new is reasonable and their common/affordable used.
Your call from here.
TD
 
Andy, in Kerrville, had a great post on this somewhere, maybe on the V8 forum. He made a puller that would pull from the spring perch end pushing against the axle. It makes great sense, his proven theory that pulling the perch would make it thinner than pushing on stuck metal and making it fatter. It was basically a bar that went through the spring perch hole and then some mechanism that pushed against the axle and exerted pressure upward on the perch.

I myself have had decent luck using heat and a press, but next time I'm going to try his method. He's used it successfully many times. If I can find it, I'll post a link.
 
Use brass or lead hammers on all parts that could mushroom. Heating the axle beyond 400 or 500 deg may not be so good for it. I would heat it and pour a small amount of fuel oil on in it. Beating on it with a hammer whether lead, brass, or steel is never very good. Try to use a press if you can get the use of one.
Terry
 
Great site Jim, the perch removal tool and engine dollie plans are going to come in handy real soon. thanks for sharing.
 
I got the perches off today by heating them and twisting them. Patients is an absolute must with this job! lol. Now it's time to try the king pins :x
 
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