Hey all, i finally got my leveling kit for my 2006 Ram 1500 4X4. I started install and everything was well, till i got to the lower bolt on the strut. Its siezed up inside the sleeve that is between it and the bushing. I tried lube, and hammering it. I beat it so much it started mushrooming the end. The mushroom end isnt to bad cause i have a grinder and i can dress it up. So does anybody have any obvious ideas on how to get it out that im missing? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!

 

Hey, I just recently installed a leveling kit on my 2002 ram, does your year have the torsion bar suspension? If so, I can help. If not, I can try and help.

 

No, Mine is not tortion bar. Its IFS with struts.

 

There are quite a few posts on this exact thing now - seems to be a design flaw to me.

Use heat/air hammer/press is all I can suggest. But I will warn you, do not destroy that bushing, as you can't just replace it. You will have to replace the whole control arm.

 

Put the nut back on the bolt so you are beating on the nut not the end of the bolt, this will keep from mushrooming the end of the bolt.

 

Thanks, I got the one side that i had originally written this post about but now the other side is WORSE!! I dont know what ima do

 

UPDATE!!I got the install completed today. Took lots of PB Blaster, lots of hammering, and a ball joint press to get that bolt out. But she finally came out!! P.S. don't go rent a strut compressor tinking you could just compress it and put the spacers on top. It doesn't work that way.