So while changing the oil in the truck the other day I noticed that my passenger side front shock was leaking. I decided that this was a good opportunity to go ahead and replace all the shocks with Bilstein 5100's.

so all goes as planned up until the bottom shock/strut mount bolt. That SOB is not budging. I hit everything with PB Blaster the day before and still nothing. I hit it with an impact thinking that if I could get it to spin i could work it out, I beat on it with every hammer I got including an 10 lb sledge and still nothing.

I then decided to try and press it out with a big 8" C-clamp. I thought i really had it licked, until i put so much pressure on that bolt that the clamp torqued and bent the clamp itself.

Needless to say i didn't get the shocks in. I am looking for some advise on how to get that bolt out without destroying my lower mount bushing. I can't seem to find the bushing by itself online, so if it does get destroyed i might have to get a whole new lower control arm (which I don't really want to do).

if anyone has some experience on this it would be helpful. From what I have read i need to try and get a hold of some kroil penetrating oil and try that. Others say hit it with some heat to break it loose. My fear with the heat is that I will melt that rubber bushing in the process.

any pointers would be greatly appreciated before I completely throw in the towel and take it to the shop.

nateroach

 

I used a ball joint press.I would torque up the bolt on the ball joint press and take a 5lbs sludge hammer and hit the bolt where the socket goes on the press.Re torque and repeat the same procedure. .I would up load pics when I did my level but I cant seem how to figure out how to upload pics....Dont put heat on it you destroy the bushing you have to replace the lower control arm.
Strut bushing is unserviceable.. Then you will have to deal with the lower a arm bolts..The lower strut bolt at the dealership is about $10.00 that I recall.
I live in Detroit salt city so mine is an 06 and it came out im sure you can get yours out..good luck..

 

I just had the exact same problem only my bushing was spinning in the bore too, i ended up cutting the shock mount away to remove the bushing and bolt ,took it over to my vice and used a balljoint press and impact to remove it. Ended up torching the bolt to get a flat surfacecto press on, luckly i had a exact match to replace it with. I was also hitting it with every hammer i have including an air chizzle theres no way that thing would have same out without that press

 

Well I found some Kroil locally and one of the guys at work might have an air chisel that I can hit it with. I will soak it in the Kroil and give it a shot here wed, or sat. I will report back on how it goes.

If anyone else has suggestions keep them coming.

 

Air hammer and Chisel. Took about 20 minutes for each w/2 guys helping. Lousy design.

 

One side of mine came out with an air hammer, the other took a 50 ton press...good luck.

If you're needing an alignment for whatever reason, I would definately free up the lower control arm bolts while you're there...the ones that connect the control arm to the frame. They are what allow for adjustment, and 3 of 4 of mine had to be sawz-all'd out.