HELP! Lower strut bolt wont come out...

So i have tried removing the ball joint on the upper control arm to get the Lower control arm down enough to get the tension off the bolt, but no luck. Im thinking it may be rusted to the metal sleeve inside the lower strut eye...I can turn the bolt without too much effort, but it also turns the metal sleeve inside the strut eye. I have tried pounding it out with a hammer and a 12" piece of rebar...but all that did was screw up the end of the bolt to where the nut wont go on anymore. I tried spraying Deep Creep in the area to loosen the bolt/sleeve, still no luck. Any Advice? I thought about cutting out the bolt, since i dont need the strut anymore...but if I did that, where could I get another bolt? Is it a specific grade bolt or would something from Home Depot work? Any advice is appreciated...

 

Yup. The standard.

 

I switched to using a quick grip clamp (or two) in spreader configuration instead of the bottle jack after it fell on my hand trying to get said bolt free. Way easier to use in my opinion and the rubber pads hold it in place much better.

As far as getting that bolt out, I had the same issue where it was seized in the lower eye bushing. Unfortunately I didn't have more than a day to mess with it so I ended up letting the mechanic deal with it. I had buggered up the end of the bolt as well in my attempts, a few minutes with the dremel cleaned up the end of the bolt so I could get the nut back on. If you can, give it a few days of applying your Deep Creep (or whatever you've got) and then try again.

If you end up cutting the bolt out you can always get a replacement from the dealer. If I remember it's got a flanged bolt head. Almost certainly it's grade 8 (or the metric equivalent). Might be able to find it at a hardware store.

 

front end fork,works everytime.

 

I had to use one of these. It worked like a charm. (You can rent them from Advanced Auto and just return it when done.) I used the 3 finger 3 inch and I have also used a 2 finger and they both worked.

 

Thanks to all the advise, i just tried the jack on the upper control arm...it worked great to get the extension i need but like Enigmaaron said, the bolt is seized in the lower eye of the strut. I am amazed it hasnt popped out. I was able to get a smaller rod through the hole that holds the sway bar link, which gave a pretty straight shot at the bolt and i pounded...maybe im a weakling but it didnt budge at all...I tried a whole bunch of positions with the jack to try and get the perfect extension, but nothing. I could see the bolt wiggling, but it just wont budge laterally...ive put about a half a can of anit seize on it...maybe ill have to let it sit overnight...other than that im out of ideas. I have an angle grinder that i kinda tried and I can get it into where I can cut out the bolt...has anyone tried this? Will the shock shoot out at me if i get all the way through? Problem is if i cut the bolt, but still cant get it out...i have no way to get the truck to a shop to get er done...

 

Heat.

or Drill it out, try the heat 1st.

Don't heat the bolt, heat the area around the bolt then work the bolt back and forth or try to knock out.

Just saw...97...ouch, yeah, heat. (and patience)

Be careful though.

 

If you loosen the top three bolts then push the upper control arm down you can easily tell when the coilover is unloaded because it will wiggle around. Then you don't have to worry about it shooting out or anything if you cut the bolt. If you only sprayed it with anti seize stuff today give it a couple days or so if you can to work on the bolt. Apply more each day, let it work, then see if you can get it out.

 

Heat and WD40/PB Blaster have never failed me. I had some serious rust going on on my bolts from living in a snow area. When I changed my lift for a new one I had to use heat and PB Blaster. Don't give up just keep pounding it.

 

Got the same problem finished driver side added new strut, went to passanger side and the lower strut nut came off bolt the bolt just spins and won't come out tried hammering but it aint't moving. Letting wd40 soak while i try to find some new tricks to use

 

Reciprocating Saw with metal cutting blade works wonders... Obviously you'll need a new bold/nut if it's not supplied...

 

A late add to this thread, but I just ran into this issue and none of the normal fixes worked. I thought I'd share what I did in case anyone wasnt able to get their's free the normal way.

Heat and a hammer didnt work, pounding it started to bend the lower strut mounts.
Couldnt get a sawzall in on the opposite side of the bolt
Jacking up the control arms to take pressure off the bolt didnt work.
Impact didnt work.
Let it sit over night w/PB blaster.

Step 1: Cut the strut off at the bottom as close to the bushing as possible
Step 2: Cut off the end of the bolt (the side that is easy to get too) as close the struts mount as you can.
Step 3: Use the largest drill bit you can (9/16th), drill out the bolt through the bushing.
Step 4: Use a coping saw to cut through the rest if youre like me and didnt drill out exactly straight.

 

Is this also known as a pickle fork? I’m having same issue with frozen bolt. Thanks

 

The lower control arm bushings seize and make it hard to get the control arm down enough to get the bolt loose. You can wrap a chain around the control arm at the ball joint and make a small loop and stick a prybar through it to pry the control arm down to unload the arm and beat the bolt out. Leak the nut flush at the end of the bolt to not mess up the threads. If its still seized cut flush against the bolt head and pound or drill the threads part out. Get a Dremel tool with some cut-off wheels.