Lower front strut bolts help

[NickOhio]

I’ve read all the threads and just dropped the LCA to get the strut out. I’ve tried an air hammer, sledge, neither bolt will budge. No idea what else to do.

Sponsored

 

[Naxster]

Are you talking about the 2 studs on the bottom of the shock?

I placed a large socket over the head of the stud, then put it in a vise and cranked it down.

 

[NickOhio]

Yeah those 2. So 1 side of the vice on the stud, where to on the other side? No good spot to get leverage.

 

[0ne]

The front lower strut stud nuts are only torqued to like 66 ft-lb so something is binding them, maybe the downward spring pressure? Try reassembling the lower control arm to its frame mount, loosening the lower strut studs then disassembling the lower control arm again? If I’m understanding correctly…?

 

[Bronco Don]

No, you put the socket over the head of the bolt and then slide the whole thing into the vice as you squeeze down the vice on the thread side of the bolt the bolt will push out through the other side because the socket is over it

 

[NickOhio]

These bastards.

 

[0ne]

Cheap hydraulic press from harbor freight or Craigslist or marketplace

 

[Apollo]

These bastards.

Maybe I’m a little dense, but why do you need to remove those studs?

 

[NickOhio]

The leveling kit I have replaces them.

 

[Apollo]

The leveling kit I have replaces them.

I think I understand now, you need to remove those studs because you have new (longer?) replacement ones and you are keeping your existing coil overs. Sorry I was being slow!

I did not remove mine when I replaced the coil overs so a little speculation on my end. If you do not have a press then I would suggest a little heat, heat the metal of the strut and before the stud heats up try hitting it or if your have a vice the method Naxster suggested. Sorry I can’t be more help. Good Luck

 

[Dlars99]

Not a problem if they’re liquid! But seriously your gonna want to press them out.

 

[Classic28]

I had to replace mine with longer bolts for my leveling kit also. I held them on the ground with my foot and smacked them out with a hammer. Took awhile but was able to finally get it.

 

[Badsquatchman]

I’ve read all the threads and just dropped the LCA to get the strut out. I’ve tried an air hammer, sledge, neither bolt will budge. No idea what else to do.

Drove mine out with a mini sledge in a heavy vice. Was a tight M’erF’er

 

[orion]

I had to replace mine with longer bolts for my leveling kit also. I held them on the ground with my foot and smacked them out with a hammer. Took awhile but was able to finally get it.

This is what I did, and mine came out fairly easy.

 

[Aonarch]

You need to press them out, maybe you can try renting a ball joint press from an auto parts store.

Sponsored