Help needed: Upper Control Arm bolt stuck

[tdubz]

I am replacing my upper control arms with some JBA High caster arms. Following Slowgoat's awesome instructions, the drivers side went on without a hitch, but when doing my passenger side, I was able to unseat the OEM ball joint, remove the nut from the long bolt, but can't remove the bolt. It will spin, but has a bunch of resistance.

There isn't a ton of room in there to bang on it with a hammer, but I have been able move it about an inch, and no further. Any idea what the issue could be or any tips on removing?

 

[montijo505]

I am replacing my upper control arms with some JBA High caster arms. Following Slowgoat's awesome instructions, the drivers side went on without a hitch, but when doing my passenger side, I was able to unseat the OEM ball joint, remove the nut from the long bolt, but can't remove the bolt. It will spin, but has a bunch of resistance.

There isn't a ton of room in there to bang on it with a hammer, but I have been able move it about an inch, and no further. Any idea what the issue could be or any tips on removing?

If you’re bushings are bad they will kinda hold it in there. Try wiggling the arm up and down forcefully and pulling on the bolt at the same time.


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[having fun]

Use a large ratchet, pipe to hit the bolt out if hammer wont fit, move up to a small bolt at the end of the bolt and hit to push through. Keep finding things longer to continue the process.

Sometimes them bolts bend slightly enough to be a pain to remove.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

I had to make use of a pry bar on mine. I put the tip of the pry bar between the head of the bolt and the big washer and started working it out that way. Also like mentioned earlier, make sure you're jiggling the control arm all around when trying to remove the bolt, that helped a lot on mine.

 

[tdubz]

Thanks all for responses.

My partner to stopped at the stearlership to pick up their last UCA bolt in stock, on her way home from work -- so nothing was going to hold me back from getting it out.

1. Tried to hammer it out. Trying to push it forward was tough due to the brake lines in the way, a small hammer was not enough force and a large one's claw was getting on the firewall and sheet metal.
2. Tried a 3-arm pryer. Grabbed onto the UCA, but this just pulled the UCA arm out and didn't budge the bolt.
3. Found a hacksaw (I was working at a friends house, and he wasn't home yet). Took the blade off and went at the head side of the bolt until the blade was no more.
4. Finally found a Dremel and a little 1.5" cutoff wheel. Moved away all the coolant lines and the power steering reservoir. Cut as far as I could, twisted the bolt, and repeated until the head came off. Then used the new bolt to push the now headless rod out towards the back.
arty:
Wrapped it up about 6hours later than expected and had myself a celebratory "shower then go directly to bed."

Definitely bent; and at the threaded end, which is why it didn't want to push out. This may be due to age or from the accident on that side that the previous owner had.

TL/DR - Bolt was bent, had to cut it and push it out to the back, and use a new one.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

Thanks all for responses.

My partner to stopped at the stearlership to pick up their last UCA bolt in stock, on her way home from work -- so nothing was going to hold me back from getting it out.

1. Tried to hammer it out. Trying to push it forward was tough due to the brake lines in the way, a small hammer was not enough force and a large one's claw was getting on the firewall and sheet metal.
2. Tried a 3-arm pryer. Grabbed onto the UCA, but this just pulled the UCA arm out and didn't budge the bolt.
3. Found a hacksaw (I was working at a friends house, and he wasn't home yet). Took the blade off and went at the head side of the bolt until the blade was no more.
4. Finally found a Dremel and a little 1.5" cutoff wheel. Moved away all the coolant lines and the power steering reservoir. Cut as far as I could, twisted the bolt, and repeated until the head came off. Then used the new bolt to push the now headless rod out towards the back.
arty:
Wrapped it up about 6hours later than expected and had myself a celebratory "shower then go directly to bed."

Definitely bent; and at the threaded end, which is why it didn't want to push out. This may be due to age or from the accident on that side that the previous owner had.

TL/DR - Bolt was bent, had to cut it and push it out to the back, and use a new one.

WOW!! :scared:

 

[montijo505]

Good job on getting creative with the dremel lol. Sounds like you had a hell of a time getting it out!


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[having fun]

I've had both sides bend before, just not to that extreme.

 

[zac808]

Not sure if same at Tacomas, but we would cut the them short then re-install the new ones in reverse.

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[tdubz]

With the new straight UCA bolt and the JBA control arms (and an alignment) she is driving straight as an arrow, my Caster is at 4º and everything else is perfectly aligned. Worth the pain.

 

[amitchell24]

I cut my UCA off above the steering knuckle holes on both sides first. Then, on the passenger side, I drilled out the old bolt until it eventually flew out and on the driver side, I was able to torch for 5 mins, hit it with pb blaster, and give a few large blows with a BFH.