Stuck lbj and bolt

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XxTiBEARiusxX

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A bolt that cost >$400... plus tax...

Update: So I got the lbjs out with one problem, my seized bolt sheared in half so I went to bed because I needed to rent some more tools. I woke up the next day and with the new tools, I went to town on that sucker but couldn't get it to budge at all. I ended up putting the new lbj on and only securing it with 3 of the 4 bolts and going to bed. After getting off work (I work the night shift), I called the dealership to see what they can do, these bastards quoted me $300 for removal and replacement/seized bolt time and realignment. I get a call back and it turns out these guys couldn't get it out either (which was bitter sweet because I no longer felt like a retard that can't pull a bolt, but it cost me >$400) and they say that they need to replace the whole knuckle. "Luckily" they're only adding $100 (hence the $400 instead of $300)... Needless to say, even though I've already dropped $1400 (including purchased tools), I'm really looking forward to driving this thing. The ride to the dealership was VERY nice! Finally, thanks to everyone for your suggestions and comments!

I'm out replacing my LBJs. I wish I could say that everything is smooth but its not. I have a seized bolt on the left side and the lbj doesn't want to come out on the right side (all bolts and nuts removed). It's 1am, therefore I can't bang the shit out of it without pissing off neighbors (and landlord already said I was too loud... I hate apartments). I tried tapping the seized bold and the tap broke. The thing that pisses me off is that I saw the bolt spin a half turn or so before it stripped, all others came off without a problem. I put the whole weight of the front right side of the vehicle on the lbj and nothing budged (I put a bottle jack underneath and it and raised it until I saw it lifted off the jack stand); I was too worried of it coming down too hard so I didn't try anything too crazy and set it back down. Same problem with the steering knuckle on both sides, wont budge and I don't want to ruin the knuckle.

Anyone have any ideas? The only thing I haven't tried is a torch (won't try that on the knuckle and I don't have one readily available). The caveat is that the landlord says his boss is coming tomorrow so I have to finish tonight!
 
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if you have a second car and 24hr auto zone, go rent a pulley?

otherwise, I don't know what to tell you at this hour.

I'd call it a night and try again tom during day light. good luck
 
the torch will help a lot. I assume your talking about one of the four lbj bolts. if its the bolt, you could use a hacksaw to cut a groove into the bolt and turn it out with a screw driver. if that doesnt work, see if you can buy a set of those grabbits and pull the bolt out.
 
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Try this. I was impatient and wanted to get my lbj's off without a rental tool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJR77aN-MDk

My lbj was able to support the front corner of the truck without popping off. The key was to "shock" it with a hammer while under load. Just make sure your truck is properly supported and leave the castle just slightly loosened to catch the lbj from moving too much.

Otherwise use a pickle fork and bang the sh!t out of it (your old boot will be destroyed though).

For your seized bolt, IDK any tricks to get it out but most likely you will need to tap/die the threads so your new bolt will go in nicely (don't rent crappy autozone sets, buy your own individual tools from Napa or wherever). Usually when my bolts move a little and then get stuck again, my threads get jacked up.

GL
 
If you can't hammer on it, you're going to need a puller to get the stuck LBJ out. If you have a 24 hour parts store near by, they should have one to loan you.

The problematic bolt is another story. The bolt is seized with a stripped head, is that right? If it moved and then stuck, it's probably galled. Soak it down in PB Blast, then use vice grips on the head, moving it back and forth, not just counterclockwise. Tapping it with a hammer will help. The longer you give the PB Blast to work the better it will penetrate, so keep spraying it down and cranking on it, it'll come out eventually. If you end up snapping it off, you'll have to drill it out, an easy-out probably won't work while it's still seized.
 
s20004runner said:
if you have a second car and 24hr auto zone, go rent a pulley?

otherwise, I don't know what to tell you at this hour.

I'd call it a night and try again tom during day light. good luck
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Thanks for the tip. I did a little bit of online research and didn't find any 24 hour auto parts store. I put her back together for the night and will start again tomorrow afternoon.

D Farms said:
the torch will help a lot. I assume your talking about one of the four lbj bolts. if its the bolt, you could use a hacksaw to cut a groove into the bolt and turn it out with a screw driver. if that doesnt work, see if you can buy a set of those grabbits and pull the bolt out.
Click to expand...
I don't have a hacksaw, I may try a chisel instead (this has worked really well for me in the past. I think by 'grabbit' you mean a bolt extractor... I already broke one inside the bolt... I'm going to by a torch, heat it up the threaded receptacle and beat the shit out of it with a hammer and chisel. If all else fails, I'll trill the bolt out and tap the whole.

Wikano said:
Try this. I was impatient and wanted to get my lbj's off without a rental tool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJR77aN-MDk

My lbj was able to support the front corner of the truck without popping off. The key was to "shock" it with a hammer while under load. Just make sure your truck is properly supported and leave the castle just slightly loosened to catch the lbj from moving too much.

Otherwise use a pickle fork and bang the sh!t out of it (your old boot will be destroyed though).

For your seized bolt, IDK any tricks to get it out but most likely you will need to tap/die the threads so your new bolt will go in nicely (don't rent crappy autozone sets, buy your own individual tools from Napa or wherever). Usually when my bolts move a little and then get stuck again, my threads get jacked up.

GL
Click to expand...
That youtube vid was GOLD! Thanks! I'll try it when I wake up in the afternoon! I still need an idea for the steering knuckle (one that wont damage the boot, I'm not too excited about spending more money at the moment).

KidVermicious said:
If you can't hammer on it, you're going to need a puller to get the stuck LBJ out. If you have a 24 hour parts store near by, they should have one to loan you.

The problematic bolt is another story. The bolt is seized with a stripped head, is that right? If it moved and then stuck, it's probably galled. Soak it down in PB Blast, then use vice grips on the head, moving it back and forth, not just counterclockwise. Tapping it with a hammer will help. The longer you give the PB Blast to work the better it will penetrate, so keep spraying it down and cranking on it, it'll come out eventually. If you end up snapping it off, you'll have to drill it out, an easy-out probably won't work while it's still seized.
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I've been soaking the bolt in PB Blast and will continue spraying it into the night and the morning. I already tried the vice-grips and they slip. Now that you mention that it may be galled, I think there could be something to that idea. I saw the bolt spin but the threaded end of the bolt was pretty corroded and I think that may have something to do with it getting stuck. I have seen some interesting looking bolt removers (one in the form of a socket) and may look for some before I ruin the receptacle by drilling the bolt out.

Worst case scenario: cut the head of the bolt off, drill and re-tap the receptacle; and ruin the steering knuckle boot and have to replace it... That would suck, but you gotta do what you gotta do... I'll tell you guys how it turns out. Thanks for the replies! You guys rock!
:guitar3::rockon::guitar2:
 
XxTiBEARiusxX said:
Yes, something EXACTLY like that! Thanks!
Click to expand...

Heat that bolt up before you try to remove it. You'll hear it pop loose, and then you good. Those nut removers are great as well. I had to use them on the O2 sensor nuts, and worked like a charm.
 
I did mine this last weekend. First off i live in NM so no rust down here. I Had to use a pickle fork on a air hammer to get my LBJ's off.
 
It is always a good idea to use a wire brush and clean the threads on the bolt BEFORE you start removing the nut. Life is much easy with this method than finding it gets stuck.
 
Are we talking about one of the 4 LBJ bolts?

I rounded one of mine back in the winter when changing lbjs. I tried one of those tools for rounded bolt heads which did NOT work. I finally got out my angle grinder and ground the head off of the bolt (I had purchased new bolts with the LBJs). The ball joint flange that the bolts go through aren't threaded so once the head was off, it slipped off. Oddly enough, then what was left of the bolt unscrewed as easy as pie. (Disregard all of the excess grinding - I was getting pretty frustrated - LOL)
 

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I_bRAD said:
Once the tension is removed by cutting off the head the bolt will often come out easier.
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Man, I really wish that this was the case for me. I sheared the bolt off with this socket stripped-bolt remover and couldn't remove the shaft. I tried torching and clamping it with vice grips: didn't work; I tried torching it while using a screw extractor: it broke off; this bolt is seized beyond my ability. I decided to call it a night and install the lbjs and will take it in to the dealer ship and have them remove and replace that bolt (so at the moment, I only have 3 bolts on the lbj... yuck!). That sucker needs to be drilled out and re-threaded and I dont have the tools to do that (nor can I drill through the steel screw extractor). I hope they don't ruin the knuckle (#1 on the diagram) because that sucker is expensive. I'm still not driving it until it's fixed (except to the dealership).

This especially sucks because I'm now at work for the next 4 days and can't get it fixed till Monday. My parents want their Jeep, which we're borrowing until the 4Runner is up to par.
 
Just for your info there was a recall on lbj on 3rd gen 4runner. You may want to check and see if your rig qualifies. They replaced both of my lbj for free, I have a 2002 4runner.
 
proudrunner said:
Just for your info there was a recall on lbj on 3rd gen 4runner. You may want to check and see if your rig qualifies. They replaced both of my lbj for free, I have a 2002 4runner.
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Wish I would have known before I replaced them! Any idea if they would reimburse me for the parts and (maybe) labor?

Edit: It looks like that recall is only for the 01-02 models. Mine's a 99. I checked the recalls for my year and there aren't any.
 
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Im not sure if they can refund your money for parts and labor. What you can probably due is have them replaced whit oem lbj and return the ones you bought. You won't get your labor money but at least you will have oem lbj.
 
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