Front strut lower bolt won't come out

black97lsc

black97lsc

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So I'm stuck.
I can't remove the lower bolt in the front air stut to replace it. The passenger side was also a bear, but I finally got it out, now the drivers side refuses. I got the nut off but the bolt refuses to come out even with the help of my friend the hammer. I have been soaking it with penetrating oil since Saturday.

I know you are not supposed to heat it as it damages other components, so besides the continued soaking, any one have any ideas or tips?

I will name my wifes cat after you if it works. Thanks!
 
What are you using for penetrating oil? If you haven't tried PB Blaster, do it! We had to use a BIG f-ing hammer.....be sure to put the nut back on flush with the end of the bolt B4 hitting it.

The oil may have to set overnight before it works....use liberally.
 
I bought the penetrating oil the hardware store had since I didn't see the PB Blaster. I'm guessing the no-name stuff is not created equal. I'll look at using the PB-Blaster. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Will the bolt turn?
You don't have a solid surface to hit against. Maybe some one else to hold the back side solid while you hit it. Otherwise you will have to heat the bolt to get it out !
 
The bolt doesn't turn. I popped off the flag that holds the head and tried to get it to turn and no dice. I think that it may be rusted in there which is why it doesn't turn so I'm gonna throw away the no name blaster and get the real stuff. I hope that helps.

I don't drive my car everyday so I can be a little patient with it sitting on jack stands.

This would have been a really easy job if not for the bolt problems.
 
Take a little weight off the LWCA before you hit it the next time. I would put a nut on the very end to protect the threads if you haven't already. I happen to have an air hammer that I put a punch point on and lean heavy into the center of the bolt, again with the nut on to help keep the point on center PB Blaster is a very good friend to have in our part of the world when working on our cars.
 
When that happened to me I removed the strut and lower control arm together so I could separate them on the work bench. With a vice and lots of hammer swinging room it should come out. If not then you probably needed a new LCA anyway. Mark the camber adjustment so you can get it close when you put it back together.
 
Doug had to use the 20 ton press on one of mine, and the other had to be cut off...

Just cut them off and buy new bolts, the bolts aren't that much money...

Keep the nuts though... they are like $23 each or something crazy like that...
 
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I was thinking of taking out the LCA but so far I'm being patient and letting it soak. And Lost is on tonight so I'll just let it soak another night. If it still doesn't come out, its not coming out. I'll probably need a new LCA. :(
 
I just did one of these today. It wouldn't come out no matter what, and that's not on a rusted car either. I took the whole assembly out with the control arm, and cut off the bolt ends, then pressed out the remnants out of the control arm bushing as the arm was still useable.
 
One side of mine was a pain in the ass, used hammers, penetrating oil, air tools, breaker bars, and swore alot, and it finally came out. The other side came out with no problem at all.
 
I just tried it again after letting it soak now most of the week. No luck. I'm taking a break before I go out there and try for the last time. I also tried to loosen a couple of the bolts to the lower control arm and that looks like its going to be another headache.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.
 
Update:
Took it into the shop and they said my LCA is bad and should be replaced.
Struts are in and so is a new LCA, I need an alignment now.

I hate rusty bolts!
 
Glad to hear it's fixed, go get an alignment and then bring it down to Carlisle... :D
 
i cut the bolt just inside the strut mount on both sides of the arm, removed the strut, drilled out the remainder and got a new bolt, if its that rusted you probably be better off with a new one, not to mention safer.
 
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