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Rear suspension wishbone bolt

B

Brian UK

GT Reference
Joined
Nov 6, 2008
Messages
2,095
Location
Addlestone, Surrey, UK
I decided to strip down the suspension linkages on the Norge to grease the needle roller bearings. The good news was that they were not dry.
The really bad news is that I cannot remove the front wishbone bolt. It turns freely, but won't come out. I can only assume it's rusted into the needle roller inner, all the other bolts had signs of rust here.

I've soaked it with penetrating oil and tried a hammer and punch to drift it out, but no joy.
It's in a very awkward place to try drilling out the bolt, so I am a bit stuck. I may have to take an angle grinder to the wishbone and replace it with a new one, if I can buy one over the counter.

Anyone got alternative and less destructive suggestions?
 
Hi Brian,
On Rays Bellagio he had the same problem, its not so much the lack of grease in bearings but the bolts rusting into the suspension likages that causes a major headache. Ray managed to saw through the bolt and then managed to get them drilled out. This was why i posted here about rust a couple of threads below. Can these bolts be replaced with stainless?

Looking at my bellagio the heads of the bolts are rusted so I imagine they too are going to be welded in. They quality of the zinc plating seems to be a bit lacking!

There are also proplems with the bar end weights on Bellagios rusting into the handle bars making removal impossible.
 
Yes, I had heard of the cutting episode, but in my case I don't have any gap in which to place the saw blade, so I would end up cutting through the spacer too.

I spent 30 mins filing the threads clean after welting it with the FB hammer, and now it's all back together pending a miracle cure.
At least I know that all the other bearings are well greased, as are the bolts.
 
Sometimes patience and repetition work. Try it again in a week, add more penetrant if it doesn't move, try again in another week and so on.
 
Brian UK said:
Yes, that was my plan. Patience is cheaper than an angle grinder.
Click to expand...

Brian

If you end up having to butcher parts and can't get replacements quickly I may have some seconds that you need. I know I have the delicate wishbone and most bolts, not sure about the cast/machined solid dog bone link. I picked them up off Ebay as insurance but I had my linkages and shock off and greased before last winter - I was surprised how easy it was after 4 years, I guess I must have won the "minimal grease bonus" at the factory when they built mine. I now plan on doing the same before winter this year as its an hour well spent .. have you noticed that the parts diagram shows them as a linkage/bolts/nuts kit not individual parts?

Art
 
Thanks for the offer. I am not in a hurry at the moment as there is nothing wrong with the bearings, so it can be left until a more convenient time.
My parts list shows the wishbone complete, but also all the individual bolts, nuts and spacers. Of course getting them is a different matter though I do have the UK's best parts supplier just a couple of miles away.
 
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