Steering Damper WTF lol

[KZJ78Sasebo]

Hello everyone, I finally got around to replacing my steering damper from Dobinsons after a trip to Autozone and check out the ball joint separator tool. Everything was going smoothly until I got to the right side end of the old damper. I couldn’t get it out and I removed the bracket that is attached to the frame to take a closer look. For the life of me, I can’t get the old damper out. I only have a dremel and was able to cut the bolt short thinking I could drill it out but I can’t. Is the welds actually from Toyota or did someone weld the damper to the bushing (or whatever it’s called)? It’s the original Toyota damper so it’s 27 years old. If I can’t get it off I will go and ask a shop to make me a bracket but until then, is it ok to drive the truck like that? I was able to fond the Toyota part number for the bracket: 4572160041 but is nowhere in stock and it’ll probably take longer than just having someone fabricate one. Thank you for your time. Sorry if the post didn’t come out right, I’m on my phone in my garage

 

[coldtaco]

Doesn’t look factory, at least not on the heavy duty 70’s. Been a while since I have seen this part from an LJ

 

[KZJ78Sasebo]

Doesn’t look factory, at least not on the heavy duty 70’s. Been a while since I have seen this part from an LJ

I will get it looked at this afternoon after work. I'm taking it to a metal fabricator to cut and drill that bolt out. I still can't believe I couldn't remove it. I sure hope it's welded because otherwise idk what else I could have done to get that thing off lol

 

[KZJ78Sasebo]

I got it done. A shop in town had a 80-ton hydraulic press and cut the ball joint and got it out for a $20 tip. The foreman told me it was giving them a bit of an issue but the thing was not welded or anything, just seized together after 27+ years. I installed the new damper and had the truck on a test drive in 50mins. This should have been a lot simpler *shm* haha

 

[jblueridge]

Quick, disassemble it, smear anti-seize compound on it, then reassemble.
Wait 3 years and it will disassemble with no problems.

 

[KZJ78Sasebo]

Quick, disassemble it, smear anti-seize compound on it, then reassemble.
Wait 3 years and it will disassemble with no problems.

Oh I did before installing it. The pictures were just showing the removed old piece haha I won’t take another 27 years to remove this like all the previous owners