Control Arm bolt removal!!! =]

**biketsai** · 09-03-2008 05:26 PM

So finally, I went in today to finally tackle this long ongoing BS. I have been going at this bolt for a year now. Well today, I first started by trying to break the bolt loose with a gorilla bar, and ended up breaking the Snap On socket. So we whipped out the acetylene torch and put the torch all over the area for around 30seconds to a minute. (note: your control arm bushing will be toasted after this, but I have new ones!) . Then hit that bolt out with the hammer and a punch!

**djwimbo** · 09-03-2008 05:33 PM

We used heat and two air hammers to get out my pinch bolt the other day.

I knew it would be trouble when I bought the car with the head of the bolt busted off.

**biketsai** · 09-03-2008 05:46 PM

Hmm, air hammer would have got it out if we had the little chisel thing small enough to go all teh way through.

**lowandslow4now** · 09-03-2008 06:36 PM

Wow i didnt know know that was a problem when i did my suspension it just came right out. i cleaned it up and put it back in.

**muff1n** · 09-03-2008 06:53 PM

yeah i when through the same BS as u. glad u got it out tho. i ended up removing the top bolts on the 2 upper control arms.

**quattro16** · 09-03-2008 07:09 PM

You all will learn HEAT is your best friend!

**Nebone** · 09-03-2008 09:38 PM

I had a serious fight with the tie rod end pinch bolts on both sides. Torches, hammers and punches had to be rigously used and abused.

**djwimbo** · 09-03-2008 09:41 PM

when I put in the uppers on the right side I pulled the whole spindle out of the car. I had the cut the bolt through the slits in the spindle to get the upper ball joints out(the arms being replaced). It was a pain, but I still did it in less time than some do w/o all the b/s in their garage.