How best to remove a rusted bolt

[God mode restorations]

Heat and patiences mate..i wouldn't be to worried about using heat..you will do more damage with a 50 tone press ...

 

[Screwdriver]

As there is a welded bracket on one end. Which sits against a lug.
It can not be twisted.

Well if there is no play in that at all, then you can't wiggle it and you're going to have to drill/press it out. Use heat.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Looking at it I would use heat, but I wouldn't quench it.
Just get it as hot as you can and put all the force, hammering etc on the bolt, not the hot cast part and it should be fine.

 

[Justme]

Cut the bracket off & remove it the other way.

 

[Piero]

Ok

having read all your helpfull replys,
I have chossen to do them all BUT in stages of the less intrusive first.

So as we speak, the intire Vlink is sitting in a tub of Diesel from my parts bath.

I am in no rush, so it can sit there all week,

next on the list is back to the 20 tonne press,

failing that, heat and press

last resort, drill it out.

one way or the other, its coming out lol

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Bill Edwards]

Presses are great things, but it's surprising what a good whack from the biggest hammer you can find will do - the shock can be more effective at breaking rust than pressure.

 

[doubleboost]

Will it not be made from cast steel

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I thought it was a forging rather than a casting, especially as the top arms that carry the transverse leaf spring are not that thick, castings are not strong under bending forces.

Looking at your photo though it does look cast, perhaps DB is right with it being cast steel rather than iron.

Mine were heated to a dull red and have done close to 50,000 miles over 20 years since.

 

[doubleboost]

I thought it was a forging rather than a casting, especially as the top arms that carry the transverse leaf spring are not that thick, castings are not strong under bending forces.

What I mean is it is not made from cast iron

 

[Bill Edwards]

I can't imagine it being made from cast iron!

But to make sure, touch it with a grinder. If the sparks are red, it's cast iron and how you treat it will be very different to any kind of steel.