rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

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pseud
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rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by pseud »

OK, next Q on this quest - how the &*@!!! do I get the rear hydractive shpere off?!

Unlike the wheel spheres this is mated to steel not aluminium - so, my guess is it can rust solid... Also, unlike wheel spheres, it's mounted on a verticle axis, so I can't swing on my chain wrench with all my weight and nor can I lock the mounting solid by raising the car before depressurising.

As per this photo, I've managed to wedge a bottle jack horizontally between a rear cross member and the chain wrench, but all I manage to do is flex the hydractive valve on it's mountings:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CkpXBOQrriuVhHRV2

Applied copious quantities of wd40 and strikes with a club hammer...

So far; no cigar.

Any ideas?

Thx
L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
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Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Two things I would try are Plus Gas (which is accurately described as dismantling fluid), sprayed daily for a week or so to allow it to soak in, followed by careful use of a hammer and chisel. I have used the hammer and chisel on the rear suspension strut spheres, and it does work (but you do need to be careful). You will need to tap in a notch into the sphere, and then (once the notch will allow purchase) start tapping them in an anticlockwise direction (lefty loosey, rightly tighty). The tapping should, with any luck, break the sphere loose. It will, however, write off the sphere.

Once you have replaced the spheres it is a good idea to (every 6 months or so) loosen off and then tighten (to hand tight) all of the spheres. That way they do not get to the point you are currently at.
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by xantia_v6 »

I agree that the best technique is to shock the sphere, either with a dedicated (solid) sphere removal tool or a hammer and chisel. Use a big hammer and swing it well, as you need to overcome the inertia of the sphere.
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by Peter.N. »

I would go with the solid tool, there is a chap makes them to order on ebay, once clamped on a swift clout with a heavy hammer will free it. I have not found a way of releasing the pressure in the centre sphere which doesn't help, but once 'cracked' you should be able to unscrew it by hand with the loss of a little fluid.

Peter
pseud
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Joined: 21 Jan 2012, 22:10
Location: Leeds, UK
My Cars: L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
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C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by pseud »

Thanks guys - tracked down some PlusGas; but, what's 'a dedicated (solid) sphere removal tool' and where on ebay do I find this magic beast?
I've used this when standing on my head:
http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/Product ... 5mm/168027
And, this when standing on my feet:
https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p56261 ... chain%20wr

Looking forward to discovery of this rare beasty.

M
L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
pseud
Posts: 80
Joined: 21 Jan 2012, 22:10
Location: Leeds, UK
My Cars: L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
x 2
Contact:

Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by pseud »

L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
pseud
Posts: 80
Joined: 21 Jan 2012, 22:10
Location: Leeds, UK
My Cars: L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
x 2
Contact:

Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by pseud »

PS Anyone tried a hammer drill with appropriate cold chisel attachment...?
L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
elma
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by elma »

I hope you mean an sds or a breaker. A hammer drill would probably injure you with a chisel attached.
pseud
Posts: 80
Joined: 21 Jan 2012, 22:10
Location: Leeds, UK
My Cars: L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
x 2
Contact:

Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by pseud »

My Boschhammer goes round and round; in and out and round and round, or; just in and out without going round and round
I try to remember to turn it from round and round to in and out when I put the chisel on - but, sometimes I forget...
It's an SDS (but takes twist drills that, well, twist - but, that's just another way to say: round and round)
:-)
PS I still have all my fingers
L15 (my first car and first profit: bought for $750 aged 16; sold for $1,500 aged 20)
Xantia Mk1 SX 1.8 (gone) (aged 40, oh dear where did they go...)
Xantia Mk1 SX 2.0 (gone)
Xantia Mk1 SX station wagon 2.0 (gone)
C5 Mk1 Ex (dead, and going... gone!)
Xantia Mk2 Ex (going)
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by lexi »

Put your cold sharp chisel where the weld is on the sphere. If you shave a piece off, straighten the angle and move to another bit of the seam weld. You are shocking it and turning at same time.
Plus gas or a freeze type spray is best. I use the Rocol freeze spray but plus gas is good enough. I have taken spheres of with this method that the removal tool couldn't budge. Helps if you have done a lot of hammer and chisel work and have decent feel with the tools mind.
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Re: rear hydractive sphere removal - &*@!!!

Post by elma »

pseud wrote: 18 Sep 2017, 18:37 My Boschhammer goes round and round; in and out and round and round, or; just in and out without going round and round
I try to remember to turn it from round and round to in and out when I put the chisel on - but, sometimes I forget...
It's an SDS (but takes twist drills that, well, twist - but, that's just another way to say: round and round)
:-)
PS I still have all my fingers
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