Hi all,

I am removing the K frame to mend a few cracks on it. I am stuck on two points:

1. How do I remove one of the stud mounted idler arms? it has little clearance on the top, due to the slant of the engine.

2. Of the three bolts that holds the steering box on to the K-frame, the top one is shrouded by braceing from the steering box itself, and on the other side, there is little room because of the exhaust pipe. I have tried regular and deep well sockets, extensions, etc to get at it. No luck. Do I need a crow foot or one of those cool looking ratchet combination wrenches? What has worked for others?

Thanks,

Greg
[edit] It is a 1965 barracuda. I have the FSM, and it remarkably unhelpful on this topic.

Is the only solution the Pickle fork? What kind of rubber boots does the idler arm use? I am sure that they will get bunged up if I go this route.

gmader I never worked on the earlier A bodies, but if you have room for a pickle fork then you have room for a tie-rod end puller I imagine. That way you can save the boot as well.

I assume you mean where the idler attaches to the k-frame. When I pulled the idler on the valiant I don't remember having any problem with access to the nut. Pull the cotter pin, turn nut with wrench, remove nut and lightly smack idler with hammer. If clearance is that big an issue you may have a bad right motor mount. If you cannot get a wrench on the nut remove the mount bolt and jack up the pass side of the motor. The idler is a taper press fit in the k-frame (like a tie rod or bj). Good luck

I tried banging on the frame, and got no where. The lesson here is to use the largest pickle fork that you have, and a heavy hammer.

there has got to be a better way.

greg