Steering shaft preventing A arm removal on a 69 GS

All,
I'm solicting advice as to the simplest solution here while this simple bushing replacement is turning into major surgery and the surrounding area looking like a blast zone with all the removed parts. Now I know I need to raise the engine an inch or so to slide the upper a arm shaft off the seated bolts to get my drives side arm out. But first I need to figure out how to get the steering shaft enough out of the way. It looks to me like I need to disconnect the rag joint and the column in the car at least. Removing the steering box doesn't look to help. Also, what the coupling on the steering shaft nearer the firewall? Does loosening that help any? Any and all advice is appreciated.

Cheers, Mike

 

Big block car? Does it have the correct two piece shaft? Power brakes?

 

Yes, most likely and yes.

 

Ttt

 

You have to press out the upper control arm bolts. Leave the nut on the end of the bolt and pry against it and the exhaust manifold . You will need some sort of spacer on the exhaust manifold like 2x4 . Its easy to do . Then after you press it out when you go to re-install you can smack the bolt back into the splines .

Sometimes you only need to do the back one and you are able to manuvere the arm around and get it off the other bolt .

 

Thanks. If that's the case I think I'll just cut the bolts, get the arms out, press the bolts out when I have more room and then replace them. Any tips on the steering shaft interference?

Thanks again,
Mike

 

Mike if you loosen the bolt and remove it you can slide the sleeve off and pry or tap it down and off the splines. Tony

 

I use a crowbar and pry against the exhaust manifold. They pop out easy. When you replace them, start the bolt splines on the existing grooves. Try not to make new grooves! Its much easier then cutting them off.

 

I'm going to try a c clamp but I'm in on pressing them out now, but they are tight. Crowbar isn't going to work on all four for sure. Hopefully they are not as tight as the tie rod ends were.

 

You can pry all 4 out the same way . It just requires a little thought about where to place the pry bar and the blocks so you gain the most leverage . After you pry them out there is no need to move the steering shaft . The pry bar I use is like 3 feet long . I've done literally 1,000 's that way

 

EXACTLY !!!

 

LOL Jason . 3 foot , 4 foot whatever it takes . Its like the Mr. Mom movie when her boss asks him about the renovations he is doing " are you doing 220 electricity " and he saws 220 , 221 whatever it takes . LOL

 

Always one upping with your large equipment

 

You know Brian !! Guys are always like that ! MINES BIGGER THAN YOURS . lol

 

Thanks Guys. Butted up and got the easy side done.

 

Thanks all!

 

Hi guys, I was hoping someone would know if the big washers on the ends of the upper control arm shafts are supposed to be different OD's. I have two different sizes and it makes me wonder. I also wanted to know if the shafts are symmetric or do I need to remember which side of the car, which side mounts to the spacers or which end of the shaft is forward? Thanks, Mike