Couldn't resist one last thing - got my new tool to take off the cover of the top ball joint.

It works perfectly, much better than a hammer and chisel

Proper Tools...... gets my vote

+ 1

New favourite thread (sorry Joolz).

Excellent story and looking forward to seeing even more!

Now want a traction too... as well as the DS Safari and HY...

I shall clearly have to up my game! But I agree, it may not be a 2cv thread but it is one of the most interesting at the moment, and not just because we're all green with envy.

I can't resist escaping the guests/clients and retreating to the garage for a bit more Traction.

So far the engine is being cleaned, skimmed and the head rebuilt with new valves, seats, springs et for unleaded fuel. Should be like new when finished.

Front brakes are being relined and drums are being skimmed - pick them up wednesday.

I am starting to dismantle the front axles and remove the wheel bearings but every step I take I seem to need yet another specialist tool - it is costing a fortune

Used my top swivel joint dismantling tool above to remove the adjusting cap and bolt.

Then I used a top swivel joint extractor tool to push out the top ball joint.


Out it pops


Now I have the drive shaft (a big version of my little AZU) on the bench and now to figure out how to get the inner wheel bearing out. (I have new outer and inner units to fit after a full clean up of the shaft)


I need a special too 1826-T to remove the castle nut buried deep in the stub axle and then I think I need a multi tool to remove the stub axle and retrieve the inner bearing - this is for another day (had to service a liens bike before I take him to airport at 6 in the morning).

Chipping away at it now when I can

Managed to pull the front end off the car today, starting with dismantling the left hand suspension and driveshafts.

The spindle through the upper suspension arm is well engineered allowing it to be screwed out through the front - i watched a quick tutorial at Le Mecano Du Dimanche You Tube channel. Trouble is I am now ahead of him in the work.


Off it comes, both left and right


Then the lower swivel joint using another special it tool - but they do work without any hassle at all.


Out with the driveshaft onto the bench leaving just the lower suspension arms which are connected to the torsion bars - I will probably be leaving these connected as they are a pain to remove and not much point really other than cleaning them up.


After disconnecting the torsion bars from the rear of the engine bay, the front end is ready to come off. There are 4 big nuts that come off and that is it.


Easy does it - the front end slides off the body.


I can now get into the engine bay and strip it, clean it and paint it. I can also just lift the car by hand, the front end is bloody heavy.

Bloody amazing monocoque design.....

Having big problems with the silent Blocs and the torsion bars.

I need to change the 4 silent blocs on the front end. They are supposed to just prise off with a bit of force but the bloody Torsion Bar came out first (not supposed to budge).

I am going to take it to a club member who has a press - hopefully that will solve it.

Like, just shows how advanced Citroen were at the time.