Why does Bentley warn against widening slit at bottom of strut assembly?

[Orin Eman]

> 
> "Bill Rowe" <browe58 at netzero.net> writes:
> 
> > bearing housing that the control arm ball joint stem slides into.  
> > this is one tough connection to disassemble.  
> 
> > no amount of lubricant seems to help either.  mr. bentley cautions 
> > against widening the slit but i've found that's the only way it will
> come 
> > out.
> 
> As you stated, it is sometimes impossible to get out.  Biggest risk I've
> encountered is breaking the screwdriver tip off in the slit.  Have done
> this numerous times, seen it done many times and never a comeback or
> anything of that nature.  I've popped the ball joints out a few times
> without much problem, but have had to open the slit a bit to get shaft
> back in.  Never reuse the old hardware.

Problem is that if you widen the slit, the recommended torque on
the bolt may not be enough to clamp the ball joint in place securely.
If the ball joint isn't clamped securely, it will pound and weaken
the center of the bolt.  It ain't pretty if the bolt breaks and
the ball joint comes out.

On a 5k, the Bentley procedure with a pipe works fine.
On 4ks, an air chisel as close as possible to the ball
joint has been seen to work well... (I wouldn't do this
directly on the ball joint/A-arm myself... I'd put a thick metal
plate on the end of the A-arm and use the chisel on that).

Orin.