rear control arm bolts

[Shirley]

I feel really stupid, knowing that almost everyone on this forum has completed this task. I cannot for the life of me get my rear control arm bolts off, so i can put my new arms on. I soaked them in liquid wrench for about 2 hrs, and for the upper control arm to axle bolt, i cannot get a socket and ratchet on the nut, there is not enough clearance cause the axle housing is in the way. Do I need to buy an 18mm wrench? If anyone can tell me step by step how they did this install I would be much obliged. And i have also heard that gettin the old uca bushings out, and putting the new ones in is alot of fun too. I'm just extremely frustrated. Thanks

 

[mercurycapri]

I have a air compressor and a air gun and that takes them right off. Its a tight fit but ive done it

 

[Shirley]

i dont have access to air tools. Has anyone done this with hand tools?

 

[Shirley]

wow, i guess i'll just hire a team of midgets to do it for me.

 

[TRWXXA]

i dont have access to air tools. Has anyone done this with hand tools?

I did it about 18 months ago. I did a rear end housing swap, with nothing but hand tools, all by myself, in my 1-car garage.

I can't remember the exact size wrenches and sockets you need, but I remember it was quite a mix of English and metric. I was able to get a pipe over the wrench I was using and got the bolts to move a fraction of a turn at a time. It took quite a while to get them off.

To get the old UCA bushings out, I drilled away the old rubber material until I was able to hammer the rest out. I have heard the easiest way to get the old bushings out is to torch them out. Whatever you do, don't damage the metal cases around the old bushings -- you need them for the new ones.

 

[Shirley]

thanks man, so i guess a cheater bar is definitely in order