Front cams for camber adjustment seized- UPDATED-both sides nearly done!
- Thread starter shaeff
- Start date
so, i'm going to bump this, as i finally got a chance to work on the car for more than 20 minutes. 
i started on the driver's side. i've got the lower arm ready to come off, with the exception of those two siezed bushings. they're relatively close to the fuel lines, so i really don't want to heat them. i've tried to pound them out with a sledgehammer, with no luck. (made sure not to mess anything else up while i did that)
they're pretty well seized in there. i've got them soaking in PB blast again, and i'll try them again on wednesday.
here's a link to the TSRM page regarding the front suspension setup i'm trying to get off:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/TSRM/fa/FA_25.html
however, it doesn't say anything about HOW the bolts come out. i assume they don't twist out (like a normal bolt) but have to be pushed out, correct?
the reason i think that is because the eccentric lobe on that's still on there (on the bolt's head side) can't come off, and if i slap an air gun on there with lots of pressure, it could technically spin right around and screw up the little "ears" that it uses to adjust the camber, right?
thus far, i'm at a loss. supra=1 shaeff=0
like i said, i'm going to keep at it, but if anyone has any more tips, that'd be great.
thanks,
-shaeff
i started on the driver's side. i've got the lower arm ready to come off, with the exception of those two siezed bushings. they're relatively close to the fuel lines, so i really don't want to heat them. i've tried to pound them out with a sledgehammer, with no luck. (made sure not to mess anything else up while i did that)
they're pretty well seized in there. i've got them soaking in PB blast again, and i'll try them again on wednesday.
here's a link to the TSRM page regarding the front suspension setup i'm trying to get off:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/TSRM/fa/FA_25.html
however, it doesn't say anything about HOW the bolts come out. i assume they don't twist out (like a normal bolt) but have to be pushed out, correct?
the reason i think that is because the eccentric lobe on that's still on there (on the bolt's head side) can't come off, and if i slap an air gun on there with lots of pressure, it could technically spin right around and screw up the little "ears" that it uses to adjust the camber, right?
thus far, i'm at a loss. supra=1 shaeff=0
like i said, i'm going to keep at it, but if anyone has any more tips, that'd be great.
thanks,
-shaeff
Damn you. You got the last kit evar? That's not fair.
Anyhow:
Those bolts DO come out like normal bolts. They're just "D" shaped all the way down so the cam can ride on the bolt.
The cam at the bolt's head is a part of the bolt. No removing it there.
You are correct in thinking you will do some damage to the lobe by continuously spinning the bolt. It will get to a point where it's too far and do some type of damage IIRC.
Cut off wheel FTW here.
cut the head off the bolt, and the other side as well. pull the arm off and press/melt the bushings out.
You're getting new bolts anyway, so who gives a god damn what happens to these?
Now that I think of it, I don't know that the eccentric lobe won't let the cam spin around 360*....
I believe it should. boy I wish I had a bolt here with my subframe....
Anyhow:
Those bolts DO come out like normal bolts. They're just "D" shaped all the way down so the cam can ride on the bolt.
The cam at the bolt's head is a part of the bolt. No removing it there.
You are correct in thinking you will do some damage to the lobe by continuously spinning the bolt. It will get to a point where it's too far and do some type of damage IIRC.
Cut off wheel FTW here.
cut the head off the bolt, and the other side as well. pull the arm off and press/melt the bushings out.
You're getting new bolts anyway, so who gives a god damn what happens to these?
Now that I think of it, I don't know that the eccentric lobe won't let the cam spin around 360*....
I believe it should. boy I wish I had a bolt here with my subframe....
the adjustment cams just slide out.
you'll have to use a cutoff wheel or a sawzall to get 'em out.....NO FUN.
you'll have to use a cutoff wheel or a sawzall to get 'em out.....NO FUN.
supra90turbo said:Damn you. You got the last kit evar? That's not fair.
Anyhow:
Those bolts DO come out like normal bolts. They're just "D" shaped all the way down so the cam can ride on the bolt.
The cam at the bolt's head is a part of the bolt. No removing it there.
You are correct in thinking you will do some damage to the lobe by continuously spinning the bolt. It will get to a point where it's too far and do some type of damage IIRC.
Cut off wheel FTW here.
cut the head off the bolt, and the other side as well. pull the arm off and press/melt the bushings out.
You're getting new bolts anyway, so who gives a god damn what happens to these?
Now that I think of it, I don't know that the eccentric lobe won't let the cam spin around 360*....
I believe it should. boy I wish I had a bolt here with my subframe....
yeah, i've got the last kit sitting in my room right now. i'm sure there's others, but i doubt they'll be at that price. yeah, i was going to borrow my buddy's sawzall and cut it off if i can't free it up on wednesday. (been soaking it in PB blast still) it doesn't want to budge. i'm thinking sawzall here will do the job. and you're right, i'm not putting the stock bolts/cams back in, but ordering new ones instead.
i'm not sure a cutoff wheel would work here, as it would just remove the head of the bolt and the eccentric lobe. the actual bolt would still be going through the subframe, unless i'm not thinking about it correctly. (just woke up, stupid night job
)drjonez said:
heh, easier said than done.
i'm thinking more and more about that sawzall. the general concensus here is to cut them out. so i guess if they don't free up on wednesday, they're going to get cut out.
i'll keep you all updated. thanks for the suggestions!-shaeff
for any people interested, ive spoken to a toyota alignment tech whos been doing this job since the mkiii was new. this guy said that only a year or two after the car was released these things would be seized up already. TWO YEARS! and your new cars adjustment cams are seized.
So I take it that the bolt rusts inside the bushing tube and get wedged in there. Is that the problem? (Bolt 48190 in the attached illustration?)
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/EPC/MKIII_NATO/291420/4802_1.html
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/EPC/MKIII_NATO/291420/4802_1.html
lagged said:
yeeeps. the first thing i tell ANY new owner is to check those cams....if they move, pull 'em all and coat 'em w/anti-seize!
lagged said:
that's ridiculous! i'm going to put some lithium grease or anti-seize in there when i put it all back together.
3p141592654 said:
exactly. i've got the nuts, washers, and eccentric lobes off the nut side, but the bolt (P/N 48190) is the problem. i'm getting my friend's sawzall tomorrow and picking up some good long metal blades. if it ever stops raining here, i'll see if i can cut them out.
-shaeff
i passed through kingston yesterday on business. youre really up there in the boonies huh? haha.
heh, yeah. i'm actually across the river from kingston in a small town, but only like 15-20 minutes away. there's no supras around here. there's a few in kingston, but i've never seen an upgraded one.
-shaeff
-shaeff
update:
i finally got one side off. (found the time to do it) i have to cut out one small piece that's left on the subframe. (part of the inner sleeve seized to the bolt still that i cut through). so one side is almost done.
i picked up new bolts for the front, all of them, including the new detached eccentric lobes. i'm going to clean up the inside of the lower arm with some fine sandpaper (steel sleeves removed) and press in the new bushings this week if i get some time, and put that side back together.
then i'll start the other side. what a pain in the ass!
on a side note: all four front cam bolts/lobes/washers, cost $127. not too bad. (i get a discount at my local dealer.)
-shaeff
i finally got one side off. (found the time to do it) i have to cut out one small piece that's left on the subframe. (part of the inner sleeve seized to the bolt still that i cut through). so one side is almost done.
i picked up new bolts for the front, all of them, including the new detached eccentric lobes. i'm going to clean up the inside of the lower arm with some fine sandpaper (steel sleeves removed) and press in the new bushings this week if i get some time, and put that side back together.
then i'll start the other side.
what a pain in the ass!on a side note: all four front cam bolts/lobes/washers, cost $127. not too bad. (i get a discount at my local dealer.
)-shaeff
Shaeff: Bit of a tip when you reassemble it buy a tube of antiseize compound and coat the camber pins before you install em!
(man I'm glad we don't get snow)
(man I'm glad we don't get snow)
Good to hear, shaeff.
It does suck. I've been there. not fun at all.
I was so excited when mine came out happily.
Make sure you anti-seize them bitches...
::edit:: lol ian beat me!
It does suck. I've been there. not fun at all.
I was so excited when mine came out happily.
Make sure you anti-seize them bitches...
::edit:: lol ian beat me!