Help getting lower control arm to drop enough for shock removal

A lot of times they're so bad that you can't even loosen the bolt and you have to sawzall them out.

 

That sounds just delightful.. another project on top of the first one.. I guess it never ends, now does it?

Hey thanks for the insights; I appreciate it!

 

Got same problem. Last Friday started to put lift in. LCA would not swing down. So, I just am going to have my machinic do the bushing and new cam bolts. The rear I am going to do my self.

 

Thanks for reviving my long forgotten thread
Mine eventually swung free by backing the cam bolts way out and putting some extra force on the LCAs. That was after 3 east coast winters worth of corrosion.

Related story, a couple years later I tried to remove the front shocks and the lower shock bolt had seized inside the bushing so then I couldn’t detach the shock from the LCA without cutting the bolt. (Tried big hammers and wd40, but that just started bending the shock mount tabs)

So I just sold that truck and got a new(er) one without any bolts rusted in place. That’s probably your best course of action.

 

Good news with possibly seized LCAs.. I took another run at it and got the danged things to move and swing free. I got them all lubed up and I'm very happy to have dodged that bullet..
Now I can get on with the original goal; the 3" lift and new tires..

Thank you all for the helpful advice!

 

How about another revival of this old and rusty thread?

I had been toying with selling my truck and buying something, but a few weeks ago decided I would hang on to her. I thought, I'll put some money into it and make it feel new to me...

rust rust rust.... 30 minute jobs become 2 hour affairs.

Currently have LCAs that won't move. Awesome!

 

Just got the LCA to drop... lots of penetrating oil and then a giant bar pushing down with my body weight.

 

Reviving a super old thread because I had the same issues when installing my new lift. The LCA was frozen at the cam bolts and eventually, I got it to drop after a lot of force. I got it all back together with the new coilovers (and new UCAs) but it took a floor jack to lift the LCA enough to align with the lower strut mount.

I am curious if anyone who had this same issue had further issues after they got it all back together? It sounds like the solution is to replace the LCA or the bushings inside (labor-intensive - beyond my comfort level with the tools I have). After just splurging on a new lift I don't exactly have a lot of cash to spend replacing the LCAs (I can and will swing it if needed). Part of me is holding out thinking I should give it a couple weeks of driving to see if it loosens up a bit. Granted, I did the install yesterday and have not had a chance today to check back and see if it has more movement than yesterday.

For anyone who had this issue did you eventually have to replace the LCA or the bushings inside the LCA?