Rear Lower Trailing Arm Removal - Driver Side
 

Vehicle: 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer.

So, I was having some issues with the upper trailing arms (solved here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...m-removal.html), but now I've ran into an issue with the lower arms, specifically, the driver's side.

Passenger side swapped out no issues. The driver side, however, the frame-to-arm bolt won't come out - it backs up against the fuel tank, and there's no slack to remove it. It was already a giant pain to break the bolt/nut loose given that a ratchet or breaker head wouldn't fit on the bolt head in the first place - had to brace a wrench with a breaker and wedge it in there to be able to bust the nut loose.

Is there a trick to this that I'm missing? I'm really hoping that the solution isn't to drop the fuel tank. :-arrgh

Cut the head of the bolt off with a cut off tool.
Install new bolt.

Lots of posts regarding this and everyone just cuts the head off and installs a new bolt in the opposite direction. BTW, a sawzall with a new 24tpi metal blade works too. Only other option is to drop the fuel tank. The bolt is a grade 10.5 so don't just use any new bolt in there.

When torquing it back down after replacement, are you torquing from the bolt head, instead of the nut?

Yes, not much choice unless like I said you want to drop the fuel tank.

Thank you!