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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14 |
I've gotten to old for this crap. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the damn spindle back on this car? Who ever wrote the chiltons manual has obviously never done it. At this point all I can figure is to get some kind of narrow spring compressor that can fit inside the strut tower. or drill out the rivits on the control arm, put the ball joint back on the spindle, and bolt it back on.....
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 509
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 509 |
Get a BIG prybar, and a helper to guide the assembly into place once you have it pried up high enough. I put the one end of the prybar centered on the control arm, and the bar under a protruding part of the knuckle. Once you have it in place a BIG rubber mallet can be used to persuade the balljoint to engage completely.
Probably not the best (safest) way, but after doing this crap about 5 too many times, I'm convinced it is the fastest and easiest. Be careful though, you don't want to let the pressure off the strut untill it is over the balljoint. I pinched the seal on a balljoint last time, so I'll have to do it again soon.
don't drink and drive.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 750
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 750 |
Originally posted by RAZ:
At this point all I can figure is to get some kind of narrow spring compressor that can fit inside the strut tower.
I did exactly that, when I was doing it on my own.
For the other side I just asked my roommate to step hard
on the control arm while I guided it in. That is definitely
the easiest way.
For the spring compressor trick: I've used 2 pieces of
1" diameter PVC pipe (about 5" long) to act as a "spacer"
between the bottom of the spring compressor and the clamp,
making the compressor 5" shorter. This way I could fit it
in, and it was enough to compress the spring about 2-3
inches.
I can send a pic of this "special tool" if you're still
stuck.
Tiv
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,299
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,299 |
Originally posted by RAZ:
I've gotten to old for this crap. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the damn spindle back on this car? Who ever wrote the chiltons manual has obviously never done it. At this point all I can figure is to get some kind of narrow spring compressor that can fit inside the strut tower. or drill out the rivits on the control arm, put the ball joint back on the spindle, and bolt it back on.....
you know what I do when I have a problem like this. I get a chair, get a beer, sit down in front of the problem and drink the beer. Eventually the solution will present itself.
I feel sorry for the people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, thats the best they're going to feel all day - former President Lyndon B. Johnson
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 146
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 146 |
Did this on Saturday - ended up standing on the control arm with one foot while I reached under and got the spindle just barely under the hub. Tapped it until it was centered, laid on my back, and gave the hub a good two-foot kick. Snicked right in. 
'00 CSVT #570 - 3L hybrid
'95 Mystique - 2001 3L
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14 |
Originally posted by JSmith:
Originally posted by RAZ:
I've gotten to old for this crap. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the damn spindle back on this car? Who ever wrote the chiltons manual has obviously never done it. At this point all I can figure is to get some kind of narrow spring compressor that can fit inside the strut tower. or drill out the rivits on the control arm, put the ball joint back on the spindle, and bolt it back on.....
you know what I do when I have a problem like this. I get a chair, get a beer, sit down in front of the problem and drink the beer. Eventually the solution will present itself.
I've done this several times this weekend and all it has accomplished is to give me a killer headache the next morning......
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