Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Hi all. Just wanted to say what a great site this is. I just realized my front axle is bent and now I had to remove my perches, which I planned on leaving alone. Some searches on this site and links to old perch removal threads, and I found the perfect solution: 1/2" extension in the bushing hole with a pipe on it to twist the perch, and a wheel puller to keep tension in the push-out direction. First got the perch twisting a fraction of a degree at a time, then kept at it. Then put the puller on and a twist on the perch, a crank on the puller, and repeat, and both are out! I initially planned on pounding and would have surely wrecked them. Thanks to all you experienced contributors!
Marty

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Me thinks you may have gotten lucky, reading other posts on this subject.
Paul in CT

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Hi Marty,

Thanks for taking your valuable time to post this photo & removal description in order to help others with this sometimes very serious & extremely difficult front axle perch removal problem.

Far too many front axles & perches already have gone to the junk pile forever because of guys trying to pound stuck perches out of the axle -- as you mentioned, pounding on the threaded bottom expands the bottom of the bolt in the bottom of the bolt hole like a very tight rivet, thus making removal even more difficult.

Once it moves a tiny fraction, adding penetrant, and/or heating with a propane torch & applying candle wax in the heated crevice helps.

Very much appreciated!

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Lucky, sure.......lucky that I read the FordBarn posts! :)

I don't know. I've destroyed many a tight bolt in my younger days by pounding/torquing too much too soon. I've learned the extreme patience required to apply mild heat and WD40, get something to move just a smidgen in one direction, then a smidge the other direction, reapply WD40, then do this forever, if needed. Eventually nearly anything comes loose with this method. The thing is, I thought the perches were keyed and I was going to heat, pound and air hammer them. The twisting advice, and the pictures of the homemade perch removing tool (made from a front spring u-bolt set) got me thinking, and led to this result.

Either way, I'd rather be lucky than good any day!

Marty

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Good tech idea Marty. Thank you for the tip. It's ideas like this that make a forum great. I'm a newby my self. :)
-Pat

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Here's a variation on Marty's method. I used a gear puller from Harbor Freight (#30305) to apply some push while twisting the perch in the same manner. Two plates of the puller are bolted together loosely capturing the shank of the perch, so it's less likely to slip off while you're torqueing back and forth. The HF kit comes with a pointed attachment placed on the drive screw which fits the dimple on the end of the perch keeping it centered. Also, the screw fits inside the axle bore allowing you to push the perch all the way thru. This one was extra stubborn and fought me the entire way out, but required no beating with a hammer or heating with a torch - just PB Blaster and some muscle. Thanks Marty for the suggestion, hope this helps anyone attempting this frustrating task. I worked for me.

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

Thanks guys. This looks like fun. Bob

Re: Awsome Site - Perch Removal
 

A long throw air impact with a flat tool is much simpler and will get the perch out.

There are 2 types of long throw (like 3" or so works as there are different lengths). There are the aircraft ones that are labeled with X's to indicate length (3x is about 3 inches) and have about a 1/2" diameter hammer. These are very standardized to give the same squish to rivets for the aircraft industry.
The other type are the automotive which can vary some and have about a 5/8" diameter hammer.

I cut off the end of a junk impact bit and used an air hammer I bought by accident at a garage sale. It had a 3" throw. It was an accident cause there was a pile of tools and they wanted such cheap prices I ask how much for everything. I did not realize what I had till much later when I looked up what the thing was.

I had an axle that the perches would not move through conventional tooling. Presses that can press harder then what is pictured. We put the axle in my REAL BIG vice, which means the axle could not move. Then ran the hammer on it. It was slow moving at first with a cloud of rust dust, but it came out.
Once out we were surprised that the end had mushroomed out a bit, but the nut still worked.
The one key is the axle can NOT move, it must be tightly held. Any movement takes away from the force of the hits.