Steering stub replacement

I have to replace the stub bolt on my steering, it's the one right at the front of the vehicle that joins the short stub control bar to the bar connected to the wheels.
If you have done one of these kits you will know the top bearing of the stub bolt gets stuck, how the hell do you get them out?
Just to make it hard for me the control arm refuses to release from the steering box splines as well, is there a special tool for these (Got the hammer!)...
MOT next week and it ain't looking good!

Do you mean the Drop arm and the link and balljoint that runs from the drop arm to the swivel?

Yeah that's the one, I have a genuine Landrover kit called a stub something, I can't get the top bearing of the balljoint out as it's covered by the lip cut into the arm, can't get the arm off either! :doh:

thats the drop arm ball join you are referring to. You will need a puller in the region of 12 tons to remove a stubborn drop arm. Even then a hefty hammer is required.

Well I had to admit defeat and leave the old bearing in place and fit the new stub in it.
It's tight but not the job I wanted to do.
I'll see what the MOT man thinks of it.

To remove the ball-joint cup, get an old 15mm long reach socket on a couple of long extension bars. Turn the steering arm to the left so that you can insert the socket on top of the ball-joint cup from above. Then bray the **** out of the end of the extension bars with a lump hammer. It's a good idea to support the steering arm from below with a bottle jack or sommat.

I tried the socket on top but there dosen't seem to be any lip of the bearing sticking out on mine, it seems totally flush with the boot seal flange?

luggsey said:

I tried the socket on top but there dosen't seem to be any lip of the bearing sticking out on mine, it seems totally flush with the boot seal flange?

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kinell, it's very badly worn then. putting a new ball in that is a waste of time.

The ball is worn on the shoulder of one side only, with the new ball in it's much better on the steering. I see where you are comming from though, it must be worn if they normally stick out past the flange? Any suggestions on how to get the old one out, bearing in mind I can't get the arm off either!
I'm going to get it MOT'd as is but if it 'did' fail I have kept the top bearing to change later on.

luggsey where abouts are you?

Barnstaple in North Devon, where the rain is wet and plentiful and the mud is muddy!

****er I drove past you last weekend comming back from Teignmouth. I wonder if anyone local could help with either a spare drop arm to refurb or help you get your one off. Jai

Always the way isin't it!
I tried using a wedge chisel to prise the arm off but when the steering box oil seal started weeping I stopped... Seems dry now thankfully!!
So I tried using a sharp punch to dislodge the bearing from above without luck.
Even if I got this arm off I don't know how I would get the bearing out unless I drilled a couple of holes either side abouve and punched it out, I would then have to get it welded back up! I asked at the main dealers about replacement cost of the arm, gulp, not having a new one, enough said! :crazy:

jai_landrover said:

luggsey where abouts are you?

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may have seen it on another forum.....but IF fitting a new arm......use angle grinder to carefuly!!! cut into arm[not yours] vertically just shy of splines toweaken it...I would then ,with heavy block on opposite side belt
side of arm near cut then pull with extractor...good luck!

mick110 said:

may have seen it on another forum.....but IF fitting a new arm......use angle grinder to carefuly!!! cut into arm[not yours] vertically just shy of splines toweaken it...I would then ,with heavy block on opposite side belt
side of arm near cut then pull with extractor...good luck!

Click to expand...

Yea I know.........wrong quote!!!!

I would never advise cutting a drop arm off even very carefully its the absolute last resort after using a hydraulic puller

As has been said, its not a great idea to cut a drop arm off although if you havent looked at this already it might be handy.

Ball Joint Removal

Ollie