Hi good people

Urgent help regards to pinch bolt (T50)

So today was trying to remove the pinch bolt, managed the nut (right aide), but for life of me, I can not reomove the torx t50 bolt, no matter what I tried, even breaking two T50 sockets :(

Used penetrate and borrowed gun, the bugger will not shift.

Any ideas, anyone come across the answer /  have or had the same problem and got around this.

I don't want to hammer out from other side as I'm not sure if the threads go through both sides, unless anyones experienced the same

Any advised would be well welcomed and very much appreciated - day off wasted LOL!

Kind thanks :)

have you tried heat 

There aren't usually any threads in a steering knuckle.  It has to be smooth in order to pinch across the shank of the bolt.  So you can just wang it out with a lump hammer.

Alternatively, heat is the proper way to do it as above.

31 minutes ago, dezwez said:

have you tried heat 

Will have to try that thanks :0)

31 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

There aren't usually any threads in a steering knuckle.  It has to be smooth in order to pinch across the shank of the bolt.  So you can just wang it out with a lump hammer.

Alternatively, heat is the proper way to do it as above.

Thanks for the reply, well wasn't hundred % sure as there are a few threads showing into the knuckle area (nut side), and knowing Ford they experiemented with the 170, yes its a MK1 focus, but made some tweaks and thought maybe its threaded on nut side as safety, hopefully not then and I can heat and knock through - fingers crossed - thanks 😉

When I had mine it’s was just a case of undoing nut to end of thread ***** loads of penetrating fluid and a good old smack with a lump hammer and a new bolt in with ***** load of copper grease 

Might be worth tightening the nut again as much as you dare. This way you might get a tiny bit of movement on the bolt before removing it and smacking with your biggest hammer!

10 hours ago, Nathan Buffery said:

Might be worth tightening the nut again as much as you dare. This way you might get a tiny bit of movement on the bolt before removing it and smacking with your biggest hammer!

thank you, certainally tried that too, so worried that if I wack it and it does have some threads in the second part of hub then i'm in real trouble, I can't be definated its just a hole and not threaded, who knows as ford can make changes on things - terrible, why not use same idea but just a six sided head bolt, already broke 2 T50's nightmare! cheers anyways

13 hours ago, hardy1812 said:

When I had mine it’s was just a case of undoing nut to end of thread ***** loads of penetrating fluid and a good old smack with a lump hammer and a new bolt in with ***** load of copper grease 

so worried that if I wack it and it does have some threads in the second part of hub then i'm in real trouble, I can't be definated its just a hole and not threaded, who knows as ford can make changes on things - terrible, why not use same idea but just a six sided head bolt, already broke 2 T50's nightmare! cheers anyways for the info 😉

29 minutes ago, MrHmrC said:

so worried that if I wack it and it does have some threads in the second part of hub then i'm in real trouble, I can't be definated its just a hole and not threaded, who knows as ford can make changes on things - terrible, why not use same idea but just a six sided head bolt, already broke 2 T50's nightmare! cheers anyways for the info 😉

Long time ago I had a 170 but I think it’s just a round bolt that smacks into a groove on the ball joint… I bought new bolts for both arms pinch bolts,, try some gentle taps on the underside of the ball joint but hit the metal unless you changing arms. You could also try whacking a wedge type chisel in the gap at the back that may help to free it,,, 

I always replace bolts with new when I do my own repairs and grease everywhere hahaha. Makes it easy next time or for the next owner 

my baby before it went to the scrap yard in the sky,, wish I did the clutch and welding miss it like crazy 🤣

If you have 2 hammers hold one hammer on the nut side then hit the hammer with your other hammer that way if you miss slightly it shouldn’t distort or crush in the side of the nut 

13 minutes ago, hardy1812 said:

If you have 2 hammers hold one hammer on the nut side then hit the hammer with your other hammer that way if you miss slightly it shouldn’t distort or crush in the side of the nut

I was told during my engineering apprenticeship to never hit two hammers together as they can shatter and spray metal fragments. Use a purpose made punch or length of scrap steel rod to hit with the hammer. If you don't have either, an old bolt will work.

39 minutes ago, hardy1812 said:

Long time ago I had a 170 but I think it’s just a round bolt that smacks into a groove on the ball joint… I bought new bolts for both arms pinch bolts,, try some gentle taps on the underside of the ball joint but hit the metal unless you changing arms. You could also try whacking a wedge type chisel in the gap at the back that may help to free it,,, 

I always replace bolts with new when I do my own repairs and grease everywhere hahaha. Makes it easy next time or for the next owner 

my baby before it went to the scrap yard in the sky,, wish I did the clutch and welding miss it like crazy 🤣

Appreciate the help, oh nice ST, sorry it went to scrapy 😞

Well yes I've been lucky I have owned panther from new coming up 18 this years, can't let her go - It was my first expensive car, from my Escort and Nova, great cars to my 170, which I'm trying to make last but time catches up with us and cars - doing all I can to make her last a few more years 😉  - thanks for the help -NEW AGRO today hahaha, Axle stuck in Hub, does the agro ever end !!

23 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

I was told during my engineering apprenticeship to never hit two hammers together as they can shatter and spray metal fragments. Use a purpose made punch or length of scrap steel rod to hit with the hammer. If you don't have either, an old bolt will work.

okay thanks 😉

39 minutes ago, hardy1812 said:

If you have 2 hammers hold one hammer on the nut side then hit the hammer with your other hammer that way if you miss slightly it shouldn’t distort or crush in the side of the nut 

arms need changing, have them ready - bolts - is the knuckle threaded or just holes - just so worried, maybe I'm worry about nothing! bolts i've ordered thanks

54 minutes ago, hardy1812 said:

If you have 2 hammers hold one hammer on the nut side then hit the hammer with your other hammer that way if you miss slightly it shouldn’t distort or crush in the side of the nut 

here she is hahaha

 

10 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

I was told during my engineering apprenticeship to never hit two hammers together as they can shatter and spray metal fragments. Use a purpose made punch or length of scrap steel rod to hit with the hammer. If you don't have either, an old bolt will work.

I’ve been doing it for umpteen years and it’s never happened to me,,,I reckon Iits a myth 🤣. I’ve done loads on my manual wheel bearing remover works a treat