keezer37
Explorer
I thought a write up about my experience with uni-ball UCAs might help others Googling for info on the subject.
Installed new in August 2007.
Removed in October 2010.
Total mileage about 56,000. (one San Diego winter, two Ohio)
I removed these as I noticed both uni-balls were worn and reinstalled the OE that I saved.
I first removed the left naively assuming that it would be a bit more trouble getting the long bolt out. It went smooth enough.
The right however was a bit less yielding.Persuasive as I was, the spacers & heim on the forward arm of this UCA had become one with the long bolt. Tap as I might with my short handle sledge, she would not break free. I noticed I had begun to deface the nut I partially threaded on to protect the threads. At this time power tools were required. Luckily, I was able to unscrew the UCA from the heims & spacers. At this point I went after the forward heim outer portion with my angle grinder so I could slide the long bolt out. Went easy enough. Now that it's out and on the bench, removing the ball of the heim and spacers shouldn't be too bad. Boy was I wrong. Long bolt head clamped down in the vice, pipe wrench on the spacer. Something's gotta give, alas not the spacer. So, more angle grinding, dremelling with a carbide bit to completely cut the spacer and...nothing. So, completely cut the opposite side of the spacer. It's in half now. Two separate pieces clinging to the bolt and still I had to hammer my trusty marlin spike between the bolt and spacer halves to get them to release.
Geeeez! (excuse my language)
And, as the uni-ball wears, the top hat portion evidently snagged the top edge of the sleeve I guess.
In all honesty, I never intended to have to take these to a cold climate and swapping them out for the winter wasn't gonna happen. Perhaps some day I'll order up the parts (basically everything but the arms themselves) and use them again if and when I live in a warm dry climate again.
Installed new in August 2007.
Removed in October 2010.
Total mileage about 56,000. (one San Diego winter, two Ohio)
I removed these as I noticed both uni-balls were worn and reinstalled the OE that I saved.
I first removed the left naively assuming that it would be a bit more trouble getting the long bolt out. It went smooth enough.
The right however was a bit less yielding.Persuasive as I was, the spacers & heim on the forward arm of this UCA had become one with the long bolt. Tap as I might with my short handle sledge, she would not break free. I noticed I had begun to deface the nut I partially threaded on to protect the threads. At this time power tools were required. Luckily, I was able to unscrew the UCA from the heims & spacers. At this point I went after the forward heim outer portion with my angle grinder so I could slide the long bolt out. Went easy enough. Now that it's out and on the bench, removing the ball of the heim and spacers shouldn't be too bad. Boy was I wrong. Long bolt head clamped down in the vice, pipe wrench on the spacer. Something's gotta give, alas not the spacer. So, more angle grinding, dremelling with a carbide bit to completely cut the spacer and...nothing. So, completely cut the opposite side of the spacer. It's in half now. Two separate pieces clinging to the bolt and still I had to hammer my trusty marlin spike between the bolt and spacer halves to get them to release.
Geeeez! (excuse my language)
And, as the uni-ball wears, the top hat portion evidently snagged the top edge of the sleeve I guess.
In all honesty, I never intended to have to take these to a cold climate and swapping them out for the winter wasn't gonna happen. Perhaps some day I'll order up the parts (basically everything but the arms themselves) and use them again if and when I live in a warm dry climate again.
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