11 replies to this topic

[Westy64]

Has anyone got any tips for removing a totally seized pin from the front upper suspension arm?

 

During the restoration process of my newly acquired  mini 25, I have dropped the front subframe out of the car and am in the process of stripping it down for some rust prevention and paint treatment. The right hand side arm came out easily, the left is a completely different matter. The bearings and pin have totally seized, and has been for some time as to the point of oval-ing  a mounting hole in the chassis! There is no way I can persuade the pin to slide out ( it has resisted my lump hammer so far), I guess someone has had a similar experience at some point.

 

I had considered using a press to coax it out, however this could be difficult with the arm still in the chassis!

 

 

 

 

[Carlos W]

HEAT!

 

I also wonder whether you could remove the grease nipple and get some penetrating oil inside????

[GreenMini17]

This is a problem i came across. I left the arm drenched in wd40 for hours then got a big lump hammer and beat the ******* out of it. If this doesnt work, i would cut the pin off (there should be enough room to get a grinder between the arm and the subframe to do this). I think it will be highly unlikely that you will be able to use this arm again after as the pin will be jammed solid inside the arm. New arms will be needed (and they are much less hassle than servicing the old units).

[Carlos W]

New upper suspension arms are a fortune! 

[Tamworthbay]

Someone on here had this a couple of months back and ended up sawing the pin off with a hacksaw. I would guess it took an age to do.

[WiredbyWilson]

I cut the pin off with a hacksaw, think I used two blades but it didn't take that long as used plenty of wd40 and bought a 2nd hand arm and rebuilt it.

 

Is a pain but sadly part of the fun of mini ownership!

[Westy64]

Thanks for the advice it seems I am going about the issue in the 'correct' way. I will persevere for now, but feel cutting the treads off is probably the way I will end up going. If I do this , and then using a hydraulic press, to remove the pin, what chances are there that that arm can be rebuilt and popped back on? (guess this is purely hypothetical as we need to see if the sleeve is damaged) 

[Carlos W]

If the arm is ok, it should be able to be rebuilt!

 

Hopefully it's just stuck on the bearings!

[tiger99]

Provided that you do not damage the end faces of the arm, it should be ok, as it is unusual for the needle roller bearings to wear right through and damage the bore of the arm. But take care when extracting the needle rollers.

 

Don't bother with WD40 for jobs like this, but it may help to give the entire inner end of the arm a long soak (days or weeks) in a rust removing fluid, or pump a proper penetrating oil through the grease nipple.

[icklemini]

Air chisel does a good job of getting them out....

[Tamworthbay]

Air chisel does a good job of getting them out....

I love my air chisel! What do you do? Take the ends off?

[icklemini]

I knock the pin out using it... its a tad fiddly... but a long bit fitted.. you can just about get on the rear of the pin.. and knock it out towards the front....