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I have checked past threads and I see no resolutions to the lower bolt removal problem. I have just worked on mine for 3 hours. It morning gloried my 24mm socket when I used a 1/2 inch breaker bar with a 5 ft. piece of 2" steel conduit on it. I got another socket and I got it to start turning and about the time the flag nut caught I could barely turn it and the bolt was torsioning with each fraction of a turn. Has anyone gotten these off without drastic measures? I had to tighten it back and leave it. This is insane.
It's a southern car. i just bought it 5 months ago. It looks quite clean all around. the underside looks like it's not seen much bad weather. I'm looking up new hardware for it. The dealership here wants $52.58 for a bolt and 10,35 for the flag nut. They're not going to get it. I found Varsity Ford Parts online and they have the items at a fraction of the cost.I don't think candle wax is going to do it. The bolt has been twisted like a candy cane. I may back it out an 8th of an inch, move the bolt back to expose the 1/8 inch gap between nut and arm and try a sawzall on it. The way the bolt twists, I'm afraid it'll break.
Mines a southern car and it comes off fine with an impact. Don’t know that I’d want to do it any other way. Wrecking yards are loaded with these cars, I’d try to get one there first.
Got underneath to spray everything with penetrating oil. Seeing the size of the bolt, I think the bolt is bonded to the feedthrough tube that the rubber surrounds. I think that's what is giving the reverse twist after turning the bolt. I'll try to get a bit of clearance between the bolt head and the control arm and pry the bolt through if I can. The hardware is already on order and shipped priority today. I'm seriously considering an electric impact driver.
Here is a diagram of the drivers side suspension assembly.
The problem child is bolt #3. The corresponding flsg nut #2, is in ablind cavity beneath the lower control arm. I think it may be loosening, but the tube through the shock's lower mount may be causing the problem. I won't know for certain 'til I try to pry the bolt from it.
I see, the bolt is probably rusted to the inner sleeve on the strut. If your replacing the strut and not worried about it, I'd try heating it up with a small torch and melting that rubber holding the inner sleeve.
Then again, you'll still probably need to cut the head off that bolt.
I'll try to get some pics when I get the car ready to use the impact driver on it. I could feel the nut move over to where the flag caught to allow loosening.it was extremely hard turning with about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch recoil after each turn.
Started again. The electric impact driver made light work of each of the shock bolts. got the upper nuts off, then I had to get the tie rod end ball joint loose to allow the strut to clear. That thing wouldn't budge. I used a pickle fork to try to remove it. It splayed the tines on the #@%# thing. I had to just reassemble the whole thing. Anyone got any ideas on how to get that tie rod end loose?
