re I hate vauxhall

[alex]

Got a few hours to spare today so its time to sort the drop links on my B.

Wasnt the pain I expected.

I have a nice lil battery grinder with a 5" cutter in it, snipped through the bar holding the 2 ends of the drop link together, then into the ball joint from the rear.
When it fell in 2 I was able to put moles on it and a bar.

All 4 put up a fight, need an extension bar on my ratchet, would never have stood a chance with a poxy alen key. New ones went on sweet, just nipped em up, no need for heroics....


Full of vigour I went under the rear to fetch the D bushes off to measure and 3 of the 4 12mm heads snapped off in the mount Now weighing up wether to try and brute force the welded nuts from inside off or have a go at drill and tap the remanants out.

Just for the record I still hate vx design for stupid designs...

[awdriver96]

Actually its Isuzu design and why they felt the need to use fine threads beats me.
You really need access to a welding torch to localise the heat and quickly get it up to red heat.
Drill through the centre of each one ( use a centre punch first to get it in the middle), then heat up to red heat drive an old file tang into hole and it should turn out with an adjustable spanner. Because of the heat it will ruin an easy-out or similar. I keep old files for just this sort of job. Dont be frightened to turn it in instead of out, it often works better and the bit will drop out of the chassis.
Just a tip, if in future your going to do anything like this again, mix oil and parrafin or diesel and soak it for a week or two in advance, it makes all the difference and usually prevents breakage, also if one breaks as in this case stop immediately and soak the others before trying them then you only have one to contend with not several.
Mike

[alex]

Pretty much the plan I need to take. I do have all the bits around me, just time, I get time off work, but cant do this with a 5 year old around me. I get ,more work done in normal working weeks

Just as well the missus bought me 300 drill bits for chrimbo Lets see how many I break.

The title was really for the previous post on the ludicous idea on the allen key for the drop links, this is just the other end.