86 accord damper fork
 

We are trying to remove the transaxle on an 86 accord (automatic,
carburated), when we got to the step regarding removing the driveaxles, the
first thing you must accomplish is removing a large nut and bolt from the
damper fork to lower control arm, however on the drivers side this bolt is
rust welded on there, im not sure exactly how it happened... so for the last
two days my father and i have been drilling the bolt out of the fork and the
control arm, we have destroyed one socket wrench, two sockets, and numerous
drill bits attempting the removal of this thing.
My big question is how bad am i going to mess things up by going
medieval with the drills in this hole? I know that the normal threading has
already been destroyed due to our extraction efforts, and things look bleak.
Am I going to have to possibly replace the entire dampershaft as well as the
lower control arm by getting down in here? There just doesnt seem to be
much hope of getting this thing out without doing some structural damage.
Any advice would help! Thanks

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

Well you really don't have to take them completely out. You just pull them
out of the trans and slide them out until the inner joint stops against the
"fork" and let them hang.



"Daniel Garrison" <rgarrison23@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:8sudnaJmVeasz1PdRVn-hw@comcast.com...
> We are trying to remove the transaxle on an 86 accord (automatic,
> carburated), when we got to the step regarding removing the driveaxles,
the
> first thing you must accomplish is removing a large nut and bolt from the
> damper fork to lower control arm, however on the drivers side this bolt is
> rust welded on there, im not sure exactly how it happened... so for the
last
> two days my father and i have been drilling the bolt out of the fork and
the
> control arm, we have destroyed one socket wrench, two sockets, and
numerous
> drill bits attempting the removal of this thing.
> My big question is how bad am i going to mess things up by going
> medieval with the drills in this hole? I know that the normal threading
has
> already been destroyed due to our extraction efforts, and things look
bleak.
> Am I going to have to possibly replace the entire dampershaft as well as
the
> lower control arm by getting down in here? There just doesnt seem to be
> much hope of getting this thing out without doing some structural damage.
> Any advice would help! Thanks
>
>

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

I'll second that. If you don't need to replace the axle right now, just
pop the lower ball joint and pull the axle out of the transmission. Be
careful of the CV joints and boots when you're moving things around.

My dad and I replaced the axles on my Accord long before the transmission.
We had the same problem. It was worst on the driver's side. You know, once
you get the head off you're not clear. That bolt is seized into a hardened
steel sheath in the bushing. That sheath meets the fork so it will
seriously hinder your attempts to cut that part of the bolt to get the fork
off. My dad used an angle grinder but that took metal off the fork. This
is the only "choice of materials" failure I've seen on these cars but it
sure is tough to deal with.

You probably know this already, but that bushing is press fit. I think it
is supposed to need 16,000 lbs. to press it into the lower control arm.
Dealers often just replace the arm, which comes with the inner and outer
bushings already installed. I believe the inner CV joint is a roller joint.
It has 3 wheels that fit into rectangular tracks to allow tilt and lateral
motion. The set of wheels attach to the axle. I believe they fit through
the fork. The outer shell of the inner joint does not. I have not done
this, but I believe you can take the large clip off the boot and just slide
the joint apart and pull the axle through the fork. If you have the tool
and a clip you can get the new one on by backtracking your steps. Just make
sure the fork and everything is real clean so you don't get sand in the
grease.

Hope this helps,
Aron


"Honda Doc" <tophondadoc@hotmail.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:WP2dnXuHgLTBx1PdRVn-hg@comcast.com...
> Well you really don't have to take them completely out. You just pull them
> out of the trans and slide them out until the inner joint stops against
the
> "fork" and let them hang.
>
>
>
> "Daniel Garrison" <rgarrison23@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:8sudnaJmVeasz1PdRVn-hw@comcast.com...
> > We are trying to remove the transaxle on an 86 accord (automatic,
> > carburated), when we got to the step regarding removing the driveaxles,
> the
> > first thing you must accomplish is removing a large nut and bolt from
the
> > damper fork to lower control arm, however on the drivers side this bolt
is
> > rust welded on there, im not sure exactly how it happened... so for the
> last
> > two days my father and i have been drilling the bolt out of the fork and
> the
> > control arm, we have destroyed one socket wrench, two sockets, and
> numerous
> > drill bits attempting the removal of this thing.
> > My big question is how bad am i going to mess things up by going
> > medieval with the drills in this hole? I know that the normal threading
> has
> > already been destroyed due to our extraction efforts, and things look
> bleak.
> > Am I going to have to possibly replace the entire dampershaft as well as
> the
> > lower control arm by getting down in here? There just doesnt seem to be
> > much hope of getting this thing out without doing some structural
damage.
> > Any advice would help! Thanks
> >
> >
>
>

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

I have seen this done. Works fine if you are carefull. bob

Aron wrote:
> I believe you can take the large clip off the boot and just slide
> the joint apart and pull the axle through the fork. If you have the tool
> and a clip you can get the new one on by backtracking your steps. Just make
> sure the fork and everything is real clean so you don't get sand in the
> grease.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Aron
> e

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

I took the hammer to killing the fly method against this one, and ended up
cutting throught the bushing. I guess i am going to have to replace the
lower control arm, which shouldnt be too bad... however the fork was left in
pretty bad shape when we finished drilling through one side of it so, Im not
sure if im going to be replacing both the damper fork and the control arm :(
however at this point, it looks bleak
"Aron" <drenkav1912@earthlink.ten> wrote in message
news:Ws%zc.12809$Y3.7219@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> I'll second that. If you don't need to replace the axle right now, just
> pop the lower ball joint and pull the axle out of the transmission. Be
> careful of the CV joints and boots when you're moving things around.
>
> My dad and I replaced the axles on my Accord long before the
transmission.
> We had the same problem. It was worst on the driver's side. You know,
once
> you get the head off you're not clear. That bolt is seized into a
hardened
> steel sheath in the bushing. That sheath meets the fork so it will
> seriously hinder your attempts to cut that part of the bolt to get the
fork
> off. My dad used an angle grinder but that took metal off the fork. This
> is the only "choice of materials" failure I've seen on these cars but it
> sure is tough to deal with.
>
> You probably know this already, but that bushing is press fit. I think
it
> is supposed to need 16,000 lbs. to press it into the lower control arm.
> Dealers often just replace the arm, which comes with the inner and outer
> bushings already installed. I believe the inner CV joint is a roller
joint.
> It has 3 wheels that fit into rectangular tracks to allow tilt and lateral
> motion. The set of wheels attach to the axle. I believe they fit through
> the fork. The outer shell of the inner joint does not. I have not done
> this, but I believe you can take the large clip off the boot and just
slide
> the joint apart and pull the axle through the fork. If you have the tool
> and a clip you can get the new one on by backtracking your steps. Just
make
> sure the fork and everything is real clean so you don't get sand in the
> grease.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Aron
>
>
> "Honda Doc" <tophondadoc@hotmail.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:WP2dnXuHgLTBx1PdRVn-hg@comcast.com...
> > Well you really don't have to take them completely out. You just pull
them
> > out of the trans and slide them out until the inner joint stops against
> the
> > "fork" and let them hang.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Daniel Garrison" <rgarrison23@comcast.net> wrote in message
> > news:8sudnaJmVeasz1PdRVn-hw@comcast.com...
> > > We are trying to remove the transaxle on an 86 accord (automatic,
> > > carburated), when we got to the step regarding removing the
driveaxles,
> > the
> > > first thing you must accomplish is removing a large nut and bolt from
> the
> > > damper fork to lower control arm, however on the drivers side this
bolt
> is
> > > rust welded on there, im not sure exactly how it happened... so for
the
> > last
> > > two days my father and i have been drilling the bolt out of the fork
and
> > the
> > > control arm, we have destroyed one socket wrench, two sockets, and
> > numerous
> > > drill bits attempting the removal of this thing.
> > > My big question is how bad am i going to mess things up by going
> > > medieval with the drills in this hole? I know that the normal
threading
> > has
> > > already been destroyed due to our extraction efforts, and things look
> > bleak.
> > > Am I going to have to possibly replace the entire dampershaft as well
as
> > the
> > > lower control arm by getting down in here? There just doesnt seem to
be
> > > much hope of getting this thing out without doing some structural
> damage.
> > > Any advice would help! Thanks
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

Daniel Garrison wrote:
>
> I took the hammer to killing the fly method against this one, and ended up
> cutting throught the bushing. I guess i am going to have to replace the
> lower control arm, which shouldnt be too bad... however the fork was left > in pretty bad shape when we finished drilling through one side of it so,
> Im not sure if im going to be replacing both the damper fork and the
> control arm :( however at this point, it looks bleak

Why replace the lower control arm? I have an '88 Civic which has a similar
front suspension and just replaced the bushings on my lower control arms,
both front and rear. The fronts were comparatively easy as opposed to the
rears. Moreover, the bushings cost quite a bit less than the complete arm,
$120 vs ~ $28.50 for the bushings at http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com.
If you don't have access to a hydraulic press to replace the bushings
yourself, then it would likely still be less expensive to pay a shop to
replace the bushings for you.

Eric

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

yeah, thats my problem right now, that in the middle there is a siezed bolt
and destroyed bushings, I dont think i have much of a chance of repaing
without costing myself a bit

"Eric" <say.no@spam.now> wrote in message news:40D0FC68.7E234B15@spam.now...
> Daniel Garrison wrote:
> >
> > I took the hammer to killing the fly method against this one, and ended
up
> > cutting throught the bushing. I guess i am going to have to replace the
> > lower control arm, which shouldnt be too bad... however the fork was
left > in pretty bad shape when we finished drilling through one side of it
so,
> > Im not sure if im going to be replacing both the damper fork and the
> > control arm :( however at this point, it looks bleak
>
> Why replace the lower control arm? I have an '88 Civic which has a
similar
> front suspension and just replaced the bushings on my lower control arms,
> both front and rear. The fronts were comparatively easy as opposed to the
> rears. Moreover, the bushings cost quite a bit less than the complete
arm,
> $120 vs ~ $28.50 for the bushings at http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com.
> If you don't have access to a hydraulic press to replace the bushings
> yourself, then it would likely still be less expensive to pay a shop to
> replace the bushings for you.
>
> Eric

Re: 86 accord damper fork
 

Don't feel too bad about it. Many have done it. It might be cheaper to
replace the bushing but you need a press or someone with one. And you have
to set your press up right and be careful so that you don't get the bushing
set at an angle because then you'll likely end up having to buy another
bushing as well as having to get that one out. There's a good chance you'd
be able to get the job done for cheaper than replacing the arms. It will be
work. As far as the fork, I would check out prices at reputable junk yards
because they might be cheap and they're something that doesn't fail on its
own. I think they are around $50 at http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com .
That is the cheapest you can get them from a Honda dealer, I think. When
you put everything together use Neverseize compound. There may be a day
that you want to get this apart again.



"Daniel Garrison" <rgarrison23@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:wLCdncNFo6COQE3dRVn_iw@comcast.com...
> I took the hammer to killing the fly method against this one, and ended up
> cutting throught the bushing. I guess i am going to have to replace the
> lower control arm, which shouldnt be too bad... however the fork was left
in
> pretty bad shape when we finished drilling through one side of it so, Im
not
> sure if im going to be replacing both the damper fork and the control arm
:(
> however at this point, it looks bleak
> "Aron" <drenkav1912@earthlink.ten> wrote in message
> news:Ws%zc.12809$Y3.7219@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> > I'll second that. If you don't need to replace the axle right now,
just
> > pop the lower ball joint and pull the axle out of the transmission. Be
> > careful of the CV joints and boots when you're moving things around.
> >
> > My dad and I replaced the axles on my Accord long before the
> transmission.
> > We had the same problem. It was worst on the driver's side. You know,
> once
> > you get the head off you're not clear. That bolt is seized into a
> hardened
> > steel sheath in the bushing. That sheath meets the fork so it will
> > seriously hinder your attempts to cut that part of the bolt to get the
> fork
> > off. My dad used an angle grinder but that took metal off the fork.
This
> > is the only "choice of materials" failure I've seen on these cars but it
> > sure is tough to deal with.
> >
> > You probably know this already, but that bushing is press fit. I
think
> it
> > is supposed to need 16,000 lbs. to press it into the lower control arm.
> > Dealers often just replace the arm, which comes with the inner and outer
> > bushings already installed. I believe the inner CV joint is a roller
> joint.
> > It has 3 wheels that fit into rectangular tracks to allow tilt and
lateral
> > motion. The set of wheels attach to the axle. I believe they fit
through
> > the fork. The outer shell of the inner joint does not. I have not done
> > this, but I believe you can take the large clip off the boot and just
> slide
> > the joint apart and pull the axle through the fork. If you have the
tool
> > and a clip you can get the new one on by backtracking your steps. Just
> make
> > sure the fork and everything is real clean so you don't get sand in the
> > grease.
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> > Aron
> >
> >
> > "Honda Doc" <tophondadoc@hotmail.nospam.com> wrote in message
> > news:WP2dnXuHgLTBx1PdRVn-hg@comcast.com...
> > > Well you really don't have to take them completely out. You just pull
> them
> > > out of the trans and slide them out until the inner joint stops
against
> > the
> > > "fork" and let them hang.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Daniel Garrison" <rgarrison23@comcast.net> wrote in message
> > > news:8sudnaJmVeasz1PdRVn-hw@comcast.com...
> > > > We are trying to remove the transaxle on an 86 accord (automatic,
> > > > carburated), when we got to the step regarding removing the
> driveaxles,
> > > the
> > > > first thing you must accomplish is removing a large nut and bolt
from
> > the
> > > > damper fork to lower control arm, however on the drivers side this
> bolt
> > is
> > > > rust welded on there, im not sure exactly how it happened... so for
> the
> > > last
> > > > two days my father and i have been drilling the bolt out of the fork
> and
> > > the
> > > > control arm, we have destroyed one socket wrench, two sockets, and
> > > numerous
> > > > drill bits attempting the removal of this thing.
> > > > My big question is how bad am i going to mess things up by going
> > > > medieval with the drills in this hole? I know that the normal
> threading
> > > has
> > > > already been destroyed due to our extraction efforts, and things
look
> > > bleak.
> > > > Am I going to have to possibly replace the entire dampershaft as
well
> as
> > > the
> > > > lower control arm by getting down in here? There just doesnt seem
to
> be
> > > > much hope of getting this thing out without doing some structural
> > damage.
> > > > Any advice would help! Thanks
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>