Thread: 1963 Steering Relay Removal = 15 tonnes

Hello All,

I just successfully negotiated the tale of nightmares... I removed my 1962 ambulance's steering relay! All up it only took about an hour. Materials used: approximately 3 aerosol cans of Lanolin based penetration fluid over an extended period of time; 1 deep socket; a smaller socket that fitted inside the deep socket and a nut to make the smaller socket sit flush with the end of the deep socket; and one 15 ton hydraulic puller with only two of the three puller legs fitted. I have been spraying the penetrating fluid around the steering relay a couple of times a week over the past couple of months. I drenched it yesterday. During each stage of pushing the relay out today I applied more lanolin penetrating fluid.

No hammers; no special steel jigs which use captive hydraulic jacks, and no oxys. Just a couple of rude words past my lips.

The biggest drama I had was to get the nut off the driver's side tie-rod. The nut had rusted and would not fit any socket or spanner. I had to resort to a cold chisel and hammer to shift the nut loose until I could use vice grips on it.

I had already taken the mudguards, radiator panel, radiator off because I have to replace the bulkhead.

Here is a video that shows another bloke using the same style of hydraulic puller as mine

YouTube

The bloke used some poetic licence and also did not show the final removal. It took me three changes of leg positioning before the relay came out. The third shift involved my two sockets and nut spacer arrangement to increase the length of stroke I could use with the hydraulic ram. The socket spacer went between the shaft of the steering relay and the other end of the socket spacer engaged with the ram pin. The ram is not long enough to push the relay out just by itself so it needed the socket spacer to push the steering relay free.

Unlike the bloke in the video I also tied and looped rope around the puller legs. I figured that with 15 tons of pressure being applied to the puller legs I would not like one or two of them slipping off the cross member and coming my way.

I originally brought the hydraulic puller to remove brake drums. It is an investment that has certainly paid off. 15T Universal Hydraulic Gear Puller Separator Hub Bearing 3 Jaw 300mm Car Repair | eBay It cost a bit over a hundred dollars and it was money very well spent! This is the company I bought it off. It was the most economical option available at the time of sale and it featured free postage.

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by singlecell

That's an awesome looking tool. Wish I knew about it before I began the war with my steering relay!

Agreed! I never knew I needed one until now... yes, I know, I don't actually have a use for it, but it's a VERY cool piece of kit!
You know how it goes - he who dies with the most tools, wins.