Lower front shock bolt seized, but nut is off

[hawk-i]

So I am in the very slow process of installing my 6112's on the front of my 4th gen. I did the rear about a month ago and unfortunately it had to sit a month until I had time to finish.

I've got the passenger side all done, but the driver side lower bolt is fully seized on. I actually got the nut off, but even with a tourque gun, 24" breaker bar, PB blaster and a hammer cannot get the bolt to budge or rotate in the slightest. Interestingly enough it looks like the LCA in question is new (little to no rust) compared to the other side. I am the second owner of about 9 months so this is very possible. I know there are lots of thread s on how to get things off, but the end result seems to be a BFG or a saw, and I really don't want to cut my LCA. (I did cut the rear shocks off however.)

Any advice would help!

I should mention I live in Canada and the corrosion underneath is pretty bad. The struggle has been real

 

[Bumbo]

Picture might help...

But my first instinct is to hit it with a hammer while having someone jumps on the hub... or lift the LCA a little with a jack to see if you can get some compression off it.

Air hammer?

 

[mavrick1903]

I had the same. After trying everything I had to cut it out with a right angle due grinder. Small wheel so slow going.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Morphyne]

I might consider hitting it with a torch

 

[bdp1978]

Slap a pipe over the end of that breaker bar and get yourself a good 3-4ft of leverage. Keep soaking it in PB Blaster.

I would also pick up some MAP gas, much hotter than propane. Heat it up, put a jack under the control arm and apply a little pressure, and whack it with the sledge.

 

[hawk-i]

Picture might help...

But my first instinct is to hit it with a hammer while having someone jumps on the hub... or lift the LCA a little with a jack to see if you can get some compression off it.

Air hammer?

Here's the photo. Not the best one but only one I have at the moment. The nut of the lower shock mount is off, but the bolt won't budge.

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll get a bit of metal tubing and some more PB blaster and give it another go. I only have a little torch for doing plumbing so highly doubt that would be enough to get the job done.

 

[bdp1978]

The OEM setup is to have the bolt go through from the back. So its def been apart before.

 

[randomtask16]

Hitting the bolt with a hammer will only shred the threads at best if it's under any sort of load. I'd release the LCA mounts torque a bit to ensure the bolt is neutral.

Out side that, same as others said...heat, impact, leverage, time.

 

[hawk-i]

Hitting the bolt with a hammer will only shred the threads at best if it's under any sort of load. I'd release the LCA mounts torque a bit to ensure the bolt is neutral.

Out side that, same as others said...heat, impact, leverage, time.

Thanks for all the advice, using it and these video's I was able to finally get it out after an hour or so. My issue was it was the bolt rusted into the sleeve in the bushing, and not the LCA. So the contact area which was corroded was very substantial. The process was soak with PB blaster, hit with hammer, use 24" bar to try and twist back and forth (not just undue), use impact wrench a little, repeat. Eventually it started to move a little, then a lot, and then I could finally tap it out!

It's tedious and a lot of work, but it did work in the end.

Video's that helped give me the routine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11aiQIeBZR8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwe6VqSw37A

Now on to the next issue