Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

How does everyone get the trailing arm bolts out? I'm talking about the ones on the cross member. My impact doesn't budge them. I have them sprayed with PB Blaster now and will try again later. Just wanted to know if everyone has to grind them off or if they will loosen up.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

One of mine remained stuck, even after I applied heat and PB Blaster over and over again. Just stick the saw in there and chop the nut off, then buy new grade 8 fasteners.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

You need ONE BIG PIPE!!

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

I had to use a 32" breaker bar to manually break mine loose on the 'Burb. Once broke loose I soaked with PB, and rocked it back and forth- finally got it to come out. My bolts were almost seized up in the bushings-the nuts came off ok.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

Even if you do manage to get the original bolt and nut off, be sure you replace em with new hardware.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

I had to use my father's 3/4" drive impact gun. Seemed to take it off farly easy
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Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

I'm not sure if I have enough room for a breaker bar under there but I'll try letting it soak over night then the breaker if enough room and heat and if none of that works I'll break out the grinder. Thanx guys!

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

i dont waste my time trying to wrench rusted , old bolt and nuts off anymore. i just cut them off with a a cut off wheel and be done with it, then new grade 8 hardware goes back on. dont waste your time.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

I was hoping the impact would work but no go. Grinding wheel it is. Good thing I found my pack of discs. :metal: Time for some sparks!

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

Good luck.. And don,t burn the house down :chevy:

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

A little heat on a rusty nut will break them free also. I've even used a propane torch if you don't have a oxy acetylene setup.
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Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

Believe it or not this has worked for me many, many times. If you have a torch heat the nut up HOT it doesn't have to be red but HOT then throw cold water on it or hit it with the garden hose. It should break loose fairly easily, after that inital break you can spin the nut off almost by hand. I've used this trick on many nuts & bolts and even the 3" unions, couplings etc on the boilers @ my work. It's worked every time. Trust me you will be amazed how well this trick works.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

This is what I would do.

IMO it's not worth the time to try and save old rusted hardware. More than likely it'll need replaced anyway. Just cut the nut and the head off, so you can get them apart. Then go down to Fasteners and get some new bolts, nuts and washers to put them back under your truck.

64shortbox's trick will get the nut off, but more than likely the shank of the bolt is rusted into the sleeve inside the bushing. With that sleeve being surrounded with rubber, it is very unlikely that you will be able to break it loose.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

Put a wrench on the bolt head, a long one, brace it againt the frame or other sturdy component in the counterclockwise direction.

Put another wrench on the nut...add a cheater bar to this wrench, as long as will fit.

Get your hydrolic floor jack positionied under the long end of the wrench on the nut.

Make sure everything is ligned up and snug and slowly raise the jack, useing the weight of the thruck to undo the nut.

If it don't work, blow the bolt out with oxy torch and install spanky new bushings and bolts/nuts.

Good luck.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

SPARKS !!!!! :devil:

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

I agree with captainfab. Pretty quick that way. Then you can put the arm in a press and get the rest out that way. Or a big vise.

Re: Trailing arm bolts stuck
 

Thanx for all the ideas guys! I went out and put the impact on it just in case and nothing. Then it started to snow so I came back inside cuz I'm doing this in my driveway. When I build my shop I'm getting a lift for sure. I'm getting old and my knees are killing me from kneeling in gravel. :waah: