UCA Bolt Bent in frame bushing (passenger side)

This is a 2017 TRD Off-Road. Putting on 2023 TRD Pro Fox Suspension with only 2k miles on them.

Had no issues until the UCA on the passenger side. Went to go loosen it last night and the bolt was bent. Cut both ends off and blanked to keep the bolt head end on to pry it off.

Any ideas on how to get it out? Bought a new UCA bolt at a local dealership. Just need this out to finish the UCA replacement. Thanks in advance.

Mitch

 

Might have to weld the head back on so you have something to grab onto.

It shouldn't have been bent inside the main part there. I've never actually heard of these bending before either!!

 

Use the short piece you cut off as a punch and tap it out a bit where you can get some vise grips on it?

 

Also check the pieces you cut off to see which is bent, then remove the bolt out towards that direction, so you're not bringing the bent piece all the way thru.

 

The rear side of the bolt was the end bent. Really hard to get a punch or existing bolt to hit it on the front bumper end. This is what I am working with....not much space...

 

Yeah, it is tight in there. Maybe something shorter like a socket? And PB Blaster it.

 

Tap the new bolt into the slot and use it to push the old one out?

 

Not sure how it got bent but it definitely was. New bolt fits like a champ. Had an extra bolt (slightly smaller than the UCA bolt; pictured below)...just kept pecking until I got enough tip at the other end to grab with vise Grips. Started to wiggle and pull.

Thanks for the help, Taco Fam!

Now the job can be finished!

 

Good job!!

 

I encountered this once on an FJ cruiser with a 6" drop bracket lift, no idea how it got bent though. Had to take a punch and a couple different size hammers to it to push it out.