Bell Cranks

[dphflytyer]

The bell cranks on my truck are completely shot. After 300K and no grease the are almost fused together. My fault as I didn't know they needed grease(stupid). Anybody replace these things and how tough was it. I'm thinking it's gonna be a real job just to get the old ones off. No matter how hard I hit these there's no way there coming apart or break free. I'd like to install new ones and load em up with grease. This road salt in the northeast wrecks everything.

 

[Coastal616]

I've taken rusted ones apart before, sand them down, grease and reassemble. Mine are pretty toast right now too. Its a crappy job.

 

[Drcoffee]

Grind them down to clean steel, paint them with rustoleum and reuse them with a good marine grease. It sticks better and resists water better. I had to also clean up the pivot point that balances L and R cables. Mine was so rusted the bushing couldnt move.

 

[TheDurk]

If you need to replace them, NAPA has a kit...

NAPA AUTO PARTS

Here is an excellent DIY....

 

[nobb]

No need to replace them...they are usually pretty costly from the dealer. Take them apart and re-grease. If they are really seized on, the trick is to hammer a screwdriver/chisel in between the housing and the crank to "open" it up a bit and to allow the crank to break free of the rust.

 

[nevada]

I had that problem on my 85.

there is a metal sleeve inside the aluminum body, where the lever goes.
mine had corrosion between the body, and the sleeve and thus was pinching the lever. I cleaned, and greased it several times, but always the same thing. it would freeze up.
so I finally used a chisel and removed the sleeve completely. theres side to side play there now, but no chance that it can get stuck again.

 

[Diesel_Dog]

Use the pdf above and you'll be fine. Both of my were seized up. I pulled them out, super soaked them with PB blast, put them in my vice and hit them with a BFH. I wasn't able to get them apart to totally sand / grind them down but I got them loose, greased them up and put them back in. 7 months later and they are still good to go.