E34 535i Thrust arm replacement help!

[silversleeper]

What methods do you guys recommend to get that damn swiveling end of the thrust arm out of the hub assembly? All the 22mm nuts and bolt are out, and I bought a pickle fork to shove in there and separate, but it wont pop out. Any suggestions?

[Rigmaster]

whack the side of the casting with a BFH.

Not the thrust arm, the actual casting that the tapered end of the ball joint sticks thru, whack it hard with a hammer, it will pop the tapered stud out with a few whacks.



Bret.

[AdamF 88iS]

Just FYI- The suspension has to be loaded when you tighten the bolt through the bushing. Drive the car up on ramps before you do the final torquing.

[silversleeper]

whack the side of the casting with a BFH.

I will pick up a 4lb hammer after i get off work and give this a shot.

Just FYI- The suspension has to be loaded when you tighten the bolt through the bushing. Drive the car up on ramps before you do the final torquing.

Thanks for that tip, I read up on it on bmw34.net...

If the hammer method fails, then what other ideas do you guys have?

[ZinRot325i]

Explosives.

[silversleeper]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. BUT, maybe I'm just being a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles or something, but I am still stuck with the. I am tempted to put the nuts back on and let a shop deal with the install. Might be hella easier. I've pounded away with my new hammer with no luck. This sucks.

[m0nyet]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. BUT, maybe I'm just being a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles or something, but I am still stuck with the. I am tempted to put the nuts back on and let a shop deal with the install. Might be hella easier. I've pounded away with my new hammer with no luck. This sucks.

when i changed mine last time, i even try to torch the thing and hammer it. the ball joint was stuck dead there. finally i take my air compressor and power tool works .... :-)

[Brew]

It helps to put some pressure on the balljoint with a prybar while you're whacking the spindle. If you really, really can't do it, then you may be better off taking to a shop. Your likely to cause some damage if it doesn't come out after a couple solid whacks.

[Axxe]

Air hammer FTW.

[ZinRot325i]

^ x10