If the heads are intact at all no reason to get the knuckles to the bench.
An oxy-acetylene torch will be your friend. If you can't grad the heads with
screwdriver cut new slots with a cut wheel. Get grip, heat the knuckle,
fast, and the screws should come right out.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dan Barrett
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 10:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: painlessly removing steering knuckles?

Dear All:

While replacing my falling-apart-rusty disc brake dust shields, I've run
into the universe's rustiest fasteners (the machine screws holding said dust
shields on).  I'd like to get the steering knuckles off the bus and onto a
bench to work on those nasty machine screws.

The upper and lower ball joints, as well as the tie rod ends, are in good
shape, and I don't want to do anything to necessitate replacing those.
What's the best way of removing the steering knuckles without doing violence
to anything?

Best,
d.

--
1990 GL -- "Mudskipper"