I'm working on a 2009 PT Cruiser. Basically a Neon with a taller body. It's a Granny car and I'm cleaning up a bunch of things that have accumulated over the years. The R.F. wheel bearing is singing a song, and loud. No problem, I bought a pair of hub and bearing sets. I'm also replacing the struts and shocks, but those aren't an issue. I have one bolt that I cannot get out. It's the bolt that goes through the lower ball joint.




I've tried to use idle arm pullers, an air hammer with the punch attachment and several different DBH's. Up to a 20 pound one. Anybody got any ideas on getting it to slide out? If nothing else, I'll pull the lower control arm and do it on a press. I'd rather avoid that as I'm taking most of the front end of the car apart anyway and don't want to pull more than I have to. Granny couldn't see tall concrete curbs so I have metal to bend back in shape. I don't want to use a torch as the lower ball joint is in good shape.

 

I'm not clear on what I think I see & just what the problem seems to be. It looks like the bolt started to back out, so is the bolt still free to Rotate & its Treaded end backed All the way out / clear of the nuts threads ???

 

The bolt won't budge. The car is fairly rust free but the suspension has heavy rust. In the photo, the nut is loose and most of the way off. I left it on to protect the bolt threads when I was knocking the snot out of it. It goes through a notch in the lower ball joint.

My ball joint press is way too big but I'm going to try and make a smaller one with a socket and C clamp. I still get tired easy after Covid so I decided to take a break and come back later. I may go back to it this morning or tomorrow.

 

Ok so lets think about this some more. IF you believe the bolt Isn't Bent, just rusted in the hole & Seeing as how it has moved Left / Out Some, before sticking again, maybe consider cleaning out the Center slot so you can see the bolt threads in the slot. Then lubing the threads. center & both ends, with a 50 /50 mix of Acetone & a good quality Tranny fluid home made rust buster (if you don't have acetone, use some of wife's finger nail polish remover, its acetone base).
Then use a non flame heat, like a heat gun, or hair dryer to warm the 2 areas Between the Slot & Bolt head & slot & Nut end, to have the Heat draw the rust buster in.
Then try tapping the bolt Head end In a little, to see if you can free up the bolt so it'll Rotate at least some.
Then lube, heat & Rotate bolt back & forth some more to see if you can break up enough rust for it to come out without too much force

 

The bolt has never moved. The threads are the end of the bolt with the nut on it.It's been soaking with thin oil for a couple of days. I'll make up a mini ball joint press with a socket and C clamp tomorrow and see what happens.

 

Try an impact and lube up the bolt head side(dry in the pic) The shock from the impact may do it. You can also use a propane torch just don't over do it to the point of melting the rubber on the ball joint. You can also use a spray bottle with water in it to keep the one side cool.

 

I didn't want to use an impact until I got some movement. I set my DBH aside and borrowed an RBH from a friend. I like to never swung that 40 pounder with one hand but I managed to tap the bolt in a bit. I set my impact wrench on the lightest setting and it spun it right out. I was afraid of an impact until I got movement lest I snap that puppy off. Both knuckles are off now.

 

Atta boy way to hang in there & think the problem through to a successful ending & good feedback to hear Both sides are off without problems.