Suspension Loosening seized control arm bushing bolts

AnthonyA1234

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Aug 17, 2020
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Florida
My 92 gt has a reverse rake. It sits about an inch higher in the front. It was like that when I got the car and even now after I put new shocks and springs it’s still doing it. When I got the car aligned the alignment guy who was very knowledgable about foxbodies told me something wasn’t right. He pushed down on the front of the car and noticed the car didn’t bounce as much and as smoothly as it should. He told me to try and jack up the car and loosen the control arm bushing bolts and then lower the car and tighten them on the ground. Does this sound like a good idea?

I was able to get the front bolts off on each side but my impact gun doesn’t fit to get to the rear ones and there’s no way I can take them off by hand they’re super tight. I was planning on tightening up the ones I took off and going to my local tire shop so they can take them all off with the small air guns and then I’ll torque everything on the ground.
 
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Yes, that's how all front suspension bushing bolts are supposed to be put on. You just barely snug them, let the car down on all fours, and tighten them up. I hate seeing people tighten control arm bolts with the weight of the car off the suspension.
 
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Or put a piece of pipe over a regular ratchet or breaker bar to extend your tool.
Just tried sliding a 6’ pipe over my breaker bar. It did nothing. I even put the jack under the bar and used that to push the bar and still nothing. I think my only option is a air impact gun that’s more compact than my electric one. Like I mentioned before im gonna head over to one of my local tire shops one of these days and see if they can break it for me with one of those air guns.
 
I love my electric impact gun, but every once in a while it runs into a bolt that requires dragging out the compressor and pneumatic.

Still, usually a breaker bar should do the trick, especially with a 6 foot cheater pipe. You might need to give some heat on the nut end first to break apart all that rust and corrosion. But be very careful you don’t melt the bushing.
 
My 83 had lock nuts on it... I got them broken free pretty easy, but they did NOT want to spin off.... Air gun did the trick..
Where I removed my LCA, all you need to do is get yours loose a couple of turns....
Did your bolt turn while you were wrenching on the nut??
 
So I borrowed my buddys compact air gun rated at 700 pounds of torque. Went at the remaining three bolts for about 10 minutes each with that thing and none of them moved at all. I have no idea how I was able to get the first one off so easily.

I’m going to try heat like Mustang5L5 said but if that doesn’t work I’m just going to live with the reverse rake haha.
 
My 83 had lock nuts on it... I got them broken free pretty easy, but they did NOT want to spin off.... Air gun did the trick..
Where I removed my LCA, all you need to do is get yours loose a couple of turns....
Did your bolt turn while you were wrenching on the nut??
I love watching your thread @limp
I’m just turning 50, and it gives me a lot of inspiration watching you do your thing! I have a lot of “life gets on the way” things right now, but I’m gonna push through and be a car guy at 65 just like you!! Keep wrenching my man!!
 
I love watching your thread @limp
I’m just turning 50, and it gives me a lot of inspiration watching you do your thing! I have a lot of “life gets on the way” things right now, but I’m gonna push through and be a car guy at 65 just like you!! Keep wrenching my man!!
Thank you for the compliment and its 67 by the way..LOL..... let me assure all that if I put in over 4 hours I feel it....
Wish I was 50 again.. I was still chasing poon tang and drinking my share of the beer being brewed in the USA..... LOL
 
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What’s the proper method for heating a bolt? I’ve never done it before. You go in a circle pattern and stop when it’s glowing red right? Then you try loosening it right away?


What do you have for heat? I use a MAP gas torch, which is what I use for my plumbing work to sweat pipes.

I apply heat off and on being mindful or surrounding areas heating up. In this case, watch that rubber bushing. You don't need it glowing red. To be honest, 10-15 seconds with a MAPP gas torch should get that thing toasty.

The idea is the rapid expansion of the nut via heat breaks all the rust/corrosion bonds allowing you to remove it much easier. Remember, turn the nut, not the bolt. You can snap the bolt if you get it hot enough.

With seized brake rotors (problem in the northeast), i also go one step further. I heat up the hat of the rotor nice and toasty, and then splash cold water on it. Usually a couple hits of the hammer breaks that sucker free. I don't use this method on bolts/nuts however, as the rapid heating and cooling can affect strength depending on several factors.
 
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What do you have for heat? I use a MAP gas torch, which is what I use for my plumbing work to sweat pipes.

I apply heat off and on being mindful or surrounding areas heating up. In this case, watch that rubber bushing. You don't need it glowing red. To be honest, 10-15 seconds with a MAPP gas torch should get that thing toasty.

The idea is the rapid expansion of the nut via heat breaks all the rust/corrosion bonds allowing you to remove it much easier. Remember, turn the nut, not the bolt. You can snap the bolt if you get it hot enough.

With seized brake rotors (problem in the northeast), i also go one step further. I heat up the hat of the rotor nice and toasty, and then splash cold water on it. Usually a couple hits of the hammer breaks that sucker free. I don't use this method on bolts/nuts however, as the rapid heating and cooling can affect strength depending on several factors.
I don’t have anything for heat I’m going to use whatever my neighbor has he told me he had a torch I could borrow.

Ok so I’ll heat up the nut and try loosening it. I’ve been trying to loosen the bolt this whole time because the nut is much harder to access. I cant fit a impact gun or a breaker bar in there. I’ll see what I can do though.