Removing lower control arm

65Rob · Jan 29, 2012

Just pulling the suspension off the 65 and hit a snag at the lower control arm. The crossmember is in the way of the bolt coming out so needless to say I have to remove it. I assume there's a welded nut in the boxed frame to remove it but I'm sure I'm on the edge of shearing the bolt off with how much force I've already used to this point. I sprayed some wd40 in the hole in the frame in that area to let it sit over night. Just wondering if shearing the bolt is a regular issue? I've certainly done that enough times over the years and it's PIA to fix, short of just welding the crossmember back in place and calling it a day and causing future headaches.

Was also surprised that the lower arm had the original balljoints

2+2GT · Jan 30, 2012

An air impact wrench is a must on these. I've seen them shear with a big breaker bar, and that opens a can of worms. Air impact tends to break up the rust that's holding it in place. On reassembly, I reverse the bolt, unless the car is a show car, so it can come out with the crossmember in place.

horseballz · Jan 30, 2012

Another tip for any bolt that may have some rust involved is to turn it to tighten, just a bit, before trying to loosen it. It breaks the rust bond more easily. Also, the "heat wrench" is your friend!
Just My $.02,
Gene

65Rob · Jan 30, 2012

2+2GT said:
An air impact wrench is a must on these. I've seen them shear with a big breaker bar, and that opens a can of worms. Air impact tends to break up the rust that's holding it in place. On reassembly, I reverse the bolt, unless the car is a show car, so it can come out with the crossmember in place.

Thanks GT I'll try the impact gun, I did have a breaker bar on it and figured it was going to snap the bolt if I went any further and yeah, a big can of worms. I like the idea of reversing the bolt, I was thinking that was the way it should have come in the first place.

Thanks Gene, good ideas, I really want to avoid snapping the bolt.

rbohm · Jan 30, 2012

the only problem with reversing the bolt is that if the nut comes off, there is a greater chance that the lower control arm bolt can work its way out. where as if you put the bolt in like the factory had it, if the nut comes off, you dont lose the lower control arm bolt as well. just food for thought.

65Rob · Jan 30, 2012

rbohm said:
the only problem with reversing the bolt is that if the nut comes off, there is a greater chance that the lower control arm bolt can work its way out. where as if you put the bolt in like the factory had it, if the nut comes off, you dont lose the lower control arm bolt as well. just food for thought.

Not sure what the odds of that are but certainly a distrubing thought, I'll have to take that into consideration.

Thanks

Bryan83taco · Jan 30, 2012

I just recently replaced my lower control arms on my '89 and had issues with the chassis bolts. I picked up a cheap propane torch at my local ace and heated the bolts up. A few minutes on each one. It did the trick and the impact took them right out.

65Rob · Jan 30, 2012

Bryan83taco said:
I just recently replaced my lower control arms on my '89 and had issues with the chassis bolts. I picked up a cheap propane torch at my local ace and heated the bolts up. A few minutes on each one. It did the trick and the impact took them right out.

Thanks I'll probably stick a torch under them for a bit too

Mustang Jim · Jan 30, 2012

Definitely try the heat, penetrating oil and impact wrench. I've broken one of those bolts once using a long makeshift breaker bar and it snapped the bolt. It was a pain to get the remainder of the bolt out.

65Rob · Jan 30, 2012

Well no luck so far, sprayed it with penetrating oil last night, heated it up and put the impact gun on it, didn't budge. My impact gun isn't much to rave about so this may be the excuse I need to get a good one

gikort · Jan 30, 2012

You don't want to heat the bolt, that will expand it and make it even harder to get out. Heat the nut red hot, not the bolt, so the nut will expand making it easier to get the bolt out (I realize you can't heat the nut because it is in the frame).

Best option is your excuse to get a new impact wrench

65Rob · Jan 31, 2012

gikort said:
You don't want to heat the bolt, that will expand it and make it even harder to get out. Heat the nut red hot, not the bolt, so the nut will expand making it easier to get the bolt out (I realize you can't heat the nut because it is in the frame).

Best option is your excuse to get a new impact wrench

Actually I was wondering about the heat concept. Anyway I do love a good excuse to buy a new tool, picked up the 700lb force Jet this morning I will try it tonight, hope it does the trick.

65Rob · Jan 31, 2012

WOW, came off like nothing with the new gun, half a trigger pull and the bolt was in my hand.

Removing lower control arm

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