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I am trying to remove the lower control arm to install an rca kit. However the bolt holding the ball joint to the knuckle is stuck. See attached
Those are the 2 sides of that bolt. I backed off the nut but the bolt is so seized I thought it was a stud at first. I put 200 ft lbs against it and it doesnt turn or anything. Needless to say the lca is good and stuck at the moment.
1. I thought maybe that bolt is pressed in. I've tried to hammer it out - no dice.
2. I thought maybe the bolt is meant to stay in and act as a stud, so I've used a ball joint separator (looks like a big fork). Also no dice. But the separator has torn the boot so now the ball joint must be removed soon. Not a big deal since I have the RCA kit, but I can't GET THIS FREAKING THING OFF.
Try and put a jack underneath the lower control arm. Jack up the control arm slightly. You may be possibly putting too much pressure on it and the bolt in a "stuck" position.
After the bolt comes out you can either use the ball joint separator or get a ball pein hammer and hit the side of the lower spindle above the LCA and once it gets knocked enough, the LCA will drop.
1. I thought maybe that bolt is pressed in. I've tried to hammer it out - no dice.
2. I thought maybe the bolt is meant to stay in and act as a stud, so I've used a ball joint separator (looks like a big fork). Also no dice. But the separator has torn the boot so now the ball joint must be removed soon. Not a big deal since I have the RCA kit, but I can't GET THIS FREAKING THING OFF.
Getting desperate here...
It is a bolt and is ment to come out. Now on the 2 bolt points, of the LCA, one is just a bolt and the other is a bolt with a nut.
Had been in a similar situation once. What worked for me was a torch( portable ones from Home Depot type) heat the ***** out of the bolt and knuckle surrounding the bolt. They take a mallet, decent heavy one, and literally beat the snout out of the heated knuckle and if you don't care about the bolt, the bolt too.... Just be careful not to damage the bolt to the point where it gets stuck and or deformed and you can't get it out.
Now when I say beat the snout out of the heated knuckle I mean beat the snout out of the knuckle. It will be tough because of the limited space but you should be trying to kill that knuckle. Should drop out.... Hopefully.... It did for me. Just in case you are still wondering..... Really really hit that knuckle. Also be careful not to damage yourself, car or other bystanders while you are swinging that mallet like your Thor. Hope you get it out cause I know how difficult it was for me.... GL!!
