Front Sway Bar Drop Links

[Hilux2400]

996 C2 2003 55K miles

 

I started to remove the front sway bar drop links, but the upper end that clamps the shock absorber stub in the hub carrier is pretty stuck.  The bottom end separated from the sway bar quite easily.

 

I have removed the clamping nut and tapped the end of the drop link bolt, but it doesn't want to move out of the alloy hub carrier.  I soaked it with several sprays of penetrating oil today, but still no joy.

 

I don't really want to take the hub carrier off and I don't want to clout the end of the bolt too hard.

 

I am now thinking about heat.  Any other ideas.

 

Thanks

 

H   

[Hilux2400]

I have thought about putting a cap on the end of the bolt and then placing a large socket over the cap and vibrating it with an impact wrench.

 

I have been looking for an excuse buy an impact wrench and this might be it.

 

H

[Hilux2400]

So after much thought I moved to the other side of the car and the upper end of the sway bar link came straight out, no problems.  I then returned to the problem side.

 

I disconnected the brake sensor and moved it to one side.  I then heated the alloy hub carrier with a heat gun near where the pinch bolts threads through.  I did this a few times with doses of WD40 in between. Took about an hour.  By placing an open ended spanner on the hexagon near the ball joint I was able to get slight movement.  I then cut the ball joint off with a small hacksaw.  This allowed me to place a socket on the hexagon driven by a long bar. Gradually, by up and down easing, I was able to rotate the pinch bolt and then drift it out.  It was absolutely embedded in locking compound.  

 

Hope this helps the next person.

 

H