how to get off control arm bolt

[aggiedave98]

Any help on how to get the lower control arm bolt off?? I've wd-40'd it and have a 1/2" breaker bar, but that's not enough. I can't get an impact wrench on it b/c of the exhaust is in the way.

[LONGHAIR]

Do you have a way to heat it? Even a propane torch may be enough.

[grayw0lf]

Longer breaker bar. Heat it & then put a 2-3ft. piece of pipe over your breaker bar. The longer the pipe, the more leverage you have.

[1971 Cheyenne]

I used a big pipe wrench and a 4 foot breaker bar with me jumping on the end of it.


Took some work, but i'd have to say getting the new ones on was even more of a chore. LOTS to look forward too

[1972C10]

Get some penetrating blaster and it will stomp a muddhole where wd40 wont phase it Heat it up with a torch and hit it with some wax that often does the trick on unbearable stuck bolts.

what i always did is put a backer wrench on it and a breaker bar and long pipe if just the breaker wouldnt do the trick, Your not going to break that bolt. So give it hell

[cdowns]

just get in there with a small cutoff wheel cut the sucker off and it's good to go . you're not planning on reusing the u-bolts that hold the control arm in place are you??

[1971 Cheyenne]

If he's thinking of the same bolt I am, you really don't want to use a cut-off wheel. Are you thinking of the 4 u-bolts that hold the lower control arom on or the 1 3/8 or 1 5/8 inch nuts that hold in the lower and upper control arm shaft?

[cdowns]

i was thinking of the u-bolts that mount the control arm to the frame,and i've seen more than 1post from members that have had used ones fail that's why i suggest getting new ones

[1971 Cheyenne]

oh, yes you are right then, There is absolutely no reason to reuse those bolts over again, they are cheap!


I was thinking of these nuts (the ones painted silver/gray)

[Sublvr72]

use PB blaster spray. I soaked mine for a few hours and the loosened up with breaker bar. Have you already seperated the lower control arm from the spindle?

[aggiedave98]

thanks for all the help!!

I was talking about the 1 1/8" bolts, not the u-bolts. I used a 4' pipe over the breaker bar and was able to break them loose.

[slam33]

Those are the A-arm shaft caps. There on with about 250 ftlbs. The shaft kits from Moog are about $50. You can get rebiulds for about a $100. As for the caps, set the truck on a jack stand and use a 4 ft breaker bar. When there loose you can pull the a-arms off and replace the shafts and caps.