70 E-Body Front Strut Roll-Pin Installation

I bought a set of the little roll-pins from a restoration supplier (called the "Front Strut Spring Pin" in the Service Manual) used in the hole on the front of the struts in front of the large nut. I went to install them yesterday and they are much larger than the hole. It seems like I'd almost need to beat them in with a hammer, which I can't do because I simply don't have the room in that area of the car to swing a large tool.

Has anyone found a roll-pin than is a little smaller diameter that I can easily push into the hole? Or does anyone have a trick to install the restoration roll-pins I bought without needing to use a lot of force to install?

Thanks everyone.

You can find roll pins at Tractor Supply,Lowes and several other local places. Should not take a BFH to drive them in.

I just used small carter keys, lot easier to get back out if I ever need to.

Thanks guys. Unless you have a specific dimension or a part number for one at Ace or Lowes that works, I guess I'll just have to buy several different sizes and see which one fits in the hole.

I thought I had what needed already, but as usual, reproduction stuff doesn't fit or work.

Rob

I just shake my head when I hear of guys buying crap like this from "restoration suppliers" when you can buy the same stuff off the shelf at local suppliers for usually less than half the price. Some people just have more money than brains.

. Some people just have more money than brains. [/quote]



Some people don't realize that you can find stuff locally. I know I've been guilty in the past.

i'll bet he doesn't have rollpin punch either.

And I'll bet ya he doesn't need one to get this job done.

the pin is not supposed to go in by hand, the use of a hammer and roll pin punch , how ever if don't have then perhaps a little persuasion will suffice. if you don't have the proper pin size then you can always remove the strut rod and drill the hole to the appropriate size for the pin you do have.

Rob,

I will be facing this same issue soon. I have some loose strut rods and can take one plus a used pin and see if the hardware/industrial store suggestions are valid.

Thanks, Tom.

I've purchased a couple different sizes of spring pins and am going to try them. The 1/4" diameter pins are too wide to even start in the strut hole. I'm going to try 3/32" and see if it is a better fit.

Rob

Rob-The roll pins will be a very tight fit.On one car we did at the shop,I cut a piece of 2x4 to fit just under the bottom of the strut which supported the strut rod itself while we "hammered" in the roll pin.

Measure the hole to get the correct roll pin diameter. A 1/8 diameter hole requires a 1/8 roll pin. A 1/8 roll pin will be slightly larger and get "squeezed" as it gets pressed into the hole preventing it from falling out.

What I did to compress the roll pin into the hole of the strut was put it into a set of small vice grips and then ease it into the hole. Once in the hole you can drift it in using a small punch.

What I did to compress the roll pin into the hole of the strut was put it into a set of small vice grips and then ease it into the hole. Once in the hole you can drift it in using a small punch. [/quote]

This is what I've done in the past and works very well