What's a slide hammer??

[Sami]

Been doing the torsion bar on the clio and seen a lot of mention of using a slide hammer to remove it? Was looking at some on ebay and im guessing they're used for dent removal as well?

How do they work?

 

[BrianR]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-9-PC-DENT...ryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[MATT BLACK]

At the edge of the rear axle ( both sides ) theres a plastic cap - if you pull the cap off you will see a female thread. You screw the slide hammer ( male end ) into the female end and then proceed to slide the hammer along the shaft which will in return pull the torsion bar from the axle. On older cars the threads sometimes corrode and the slide hammer will rip the threads out of the torsion bar on the first hit making it difficult to extract them. Personally i would warm the bars up with an oxycetalene torch first - this will help free them off

 

[MATT BLACK]

Make sure you measure and take markings of were the axle originally was ( and the torsion bars ) as this will give you a guide line on how low you want it to go

 

[Sami]

^^ I did it yesterday using the bolt/nut/socket combination and might be doing one on a 106 gti, so was just wondering whether it was worth getting one?

 

[MATT BLACK]

Yes mate - there a handy tool

 

[Sami]

Where will I get the right size thread for the slide hammer though?

 

[ClioGav]

I find that the thread/socket/nut method is much better than using a slide hammer. I'd stick with that mate

 

[BrianR]

The basic hammer has a threaded end and this enables you to fit any of the "tools" on the end. You buy (get) a selection of thread adapters or hooks.screws for pulling everything from dented panels to stubborn bushes.