'12 1500 front lower strut bolt stuck

[T_Unit114]

Went to level the truck today and ran into a slight issue. Lower strut bolt is stuck in the bushing. I kinda figured it would be. Called around and can't find the lower bushing and bolt. Dealer only sells the entire control arm (no way I'm doing that) and my air compressor just shat the bed. So no air hammer. Can't use heat without destroying the rubber bushings so I'm kinda in a pickle. Any suggestions? I can slap it all back together as it sits right now. I haven't started hacking anything apart yet as it's my daily and I can't be without it for more than a few hours....... I can't beat on the bolt much more without deforming the head and the bushing is spinning with the bolt. I'm stumped at the moment.



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[smoothee]

Personally I'd throw it all back together and tackle again once you have the replacement bolts and bushings. Weird though because I had no problem getting just the bolts at the dealer and got new Moog bushings from Rock Auto.

 

[BOWERSFJ]

Block of wood and a bigger hammer !!!!


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[smoothee]

You might get lucky, but I tried it all. PB Blaster for a couple days, heat, and beat on it like a sonofabitch with a BFH. Bolts were completely fused to the sleeves.

 

[T_Unit114]

Current BFH and I just tried a small diameter chisel on the split part of the sleeve. If I can get to the sleeve part on the bolt head size I might be able to get it. I just noticed it was like a roll pin with a seam and a gap. I might have to go find stuff online. I was baffled by the fact local stores couldn't find bolts or bushings. That would mean a full control arm swap every time you do struts. Which seems very unfriendly to the pocketbook of anyone paying people to do work for them. I also see how people seem to feel they grey s rewed by the dealer and 3rd party shops when simple shock/strut jobs turn into control arms, ball joints and entire suspension rebuilds.

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[smoothee]

Seems to be that particular bolt that is the most troublesome for some reason. Just coat it in anti seize when/if you get it out or get a new one.

 

[T_Unit114]

Update: after a couple hours of searching and cussing, I located the bolts at the dealership. Pricy but whatever. AutoZone had the bushings. Duralast is not my brand of choice but again, whatever. This kit is coil spacers. It's a temporary solution to achieve a goal of not losing my ass on a set of wheels and tires I bought for my old truck.

Also managed to get my compressor working. Somehow while attempting to override the auto shutoff (this particular 80s model only runs 90psi) I tripped my breaker. My garage lights are on a separate feed so I had no idea until I slapped the truck back together and tried to leave for an appointment and my garage door was inoperative. (Ah-Ha! 2+2=4) compressor fires right up after breaker was reset and now fills to 100psi which operates my air hammer effectively.

I'll be digging back into it again tomorrow. I had to tame my jungle of a lawn (knee high in a couple spots) and by the time I got that squared away and picked up my parts, I would have been working dead into the night which I'm getting a bit too old to do voluntarily anymore. I'm at the age where I'll do it if I have to. Not quite to the stage where you just say screw it I'll pay someone if it's gonna be that much hassle.

Air hammer on the bolts first. If that doesn't do it, I'll hack off the bolts and drive everything out with the air hammer after. I've got two big jars of anti-sieze and one will be half gone after this ordeal is over with. I'll be back to this deal again in the future for a 5100 and new springs upgrade anyways so I'm not taking any chances.

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[daveray9]

Sorry... missed the part where you got all the stuff. DOH!!


Same thing happened to me.
They sell the bushings and bolts on rockauto.
Think I have an xtra bushing left and possibly a bolt, I got some from when I did mine.
PM me w your zip and I will see what shipping is.


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[daveray9]

Oh also... you will have to cut the bolt.

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[T_Unit114]

Sorry... missed the part where you got all the stuff. DOH!!


Same thing happened to me.
They sell the bushings and bolts on rockauto.
Think I have an xtra bushing left and possibly a bolt, I got some from when I did mine.
PM me w your zip and I will see what shipping is.


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Oh also... you will have to cut the bolt.

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So I got most everything apart on the driver's side today. As expected, lower bolt seized. Sold my spare truck off last weekend so I had to bust out the old mountain bike to make a run to the hardware for some cutoff wheels. Hacked the bolt free on both sides and the strut top nut refused to break loose. Since these struts have like 4 bushings and shields, u had no way to grip the shaft to try and get the nut loose. My final attempt resulted in me snapping the hex portion of the strut rod off. It was still past the nut so it's safe but enough for me to admit defeat before ruining the strut completely and having no options.

This left me with the bushing in the lower arm still left to tackle. I finally got so sick of fawking with it I took a map gas torch and burned the inner rubber out enough to drive the center sleeve free and that allowed me to royally c*ntfuckulate the outer part of the bushing enough to drive it out. New one went in nice and smooth but that lower arm got a few battle scars from my relentless air hammering. Nothing substantial but it's not pretty.

Looks like coil spacers are a big 10-no. Gonna have to pony up for 5100s and new coils. Dammit.

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[daveray9]

Sux man.. I feel your pain.
I bought a set of used struts to swap the hardware and coils over to on the 5100s before I took the truck apart, also extra bushings with bolts. Didnt want to have any issues with them after I had everything apart. And even then I got screwed by the same bolt you did. Best part is when I finally got the new bushings and 5100s in.. brought it to get an alignment and the upper two bushings that mount the lower control arm to the frame were frozen. Those are what need to be adjusted for an alignment. Have to replace those at some point too... for now Im running slightly off on one side, just didnt have the mentality to take it all apart again.



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[T_Unit114]

Sux man.. I feel your pain.
I bought a set of used struts to swap the hardware and coils over to on the 5100s before I took the truck apart, also extra bushings with bolts. Didnt want to have any issues with them after I had everything apart. And even then I got screwed by the same bolt you did. Best part is when I finally got the new bushings and 5100s in.. brought it to get an alignment and the upper two bushings that mount the lower control arm to the frame were frozen. Those are what need to be adjusted for an alignment. Have to replace those at some point too... for now Im running slightly off on one side, just didnt have the mentality to take it all apart again.



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Oh god. Maybe I should just get new lower arms.

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[daveray9]

Oh god. Maybe I should just get new lower arms.

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I mean.. def an option and then you could paint em!! But 3 bushings and bolts cost like 30bucks.. LCAs were in the 200s last time I checked. Depends on what your sanity and time is worth. [emoji106][emoji106]

I do have an extra bushing and bolt if you need one.. happy to send it over for whatever shipping is.

Glad Im not the only one with this issue.
Keep us posted, good luck!

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[jlsalani]

Had the same issue..... started with the lower strut bolt totally seized in the control arm. I beat the crap out. finally gave up and tried to just remove the lower control arm and wouldn't you know it that both of those were seized also. Finally had had it and cut everything off!. got new lower control arms, and bolts and nuts all the way around. Wasn't the original plan but all worked out in the end. Truck rides like a dream now with Bilstein 5100 set at 2.1 and Zone Upper Control arms. This was on my kids 2011, sort of expected it. Will see how it works on my 2015 next summer, but might just get all the parts ahead of time

 

[daveray9]

Had the same issue..... started with the lower strut bolt totally seized in the control arm. I beat the crap out. finally gave up and tried to just remove the lower control arm and wouldn't you know it that both of those were seized also. Finally had had it and cut everything off!. got new lower control arms, and bolts and nuts all the way around. Wasn't the original plan but all worked out in the end. Truck rides like a dream now with Bilstein 5100 set at 2.1 and Zone Upper Control arms. This was on my kids 2011, sort of expected it. Will see how it works on my 2015 next summer, but might just get all the parts ahead of time

Running bigger tires at 2.1?

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[T_Unit114]

Had the same issue..... started with the lower strut bolt totally seized in the control arm. I beat the crap out. finally gave up and tried to just remove the lower control arm and wouldn't you know it that both of those were seized also. Finally had had it and cut everything off!. got new lower control arms, and bolts and nuts all the way around. Wasn't the original plan but all worked out in the end. Truck rides like a dream now with Bilstein 5100 set at 2.1 and Zone Upper Control arms. This was on my kids 2011, sort of expected it. Will see how it works on my 2015 next summer, but might just get all the parts ahead of time

I'll have to look into the camber bolts and bushings too. I have a feeling they'll be seized and render my truck unable to be aligned. Any reason for the zone upper arms? I noticed the stocks are some really flimsy looking stamped sheet steel. Are zone uppers tubular? Or are they needed to correct UBJA?

Good thing I've got **** tires already. But by the time I get all this crap done to.run my nice wheels, the nice wheel weather is gonna be done and over with and I'll have to buy tires because driving around with a ***** alignment killed what was left of the ones I've got [emoji23][emoji23]

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[T_Unit114]

I mean.. def an option and then you could paint em!! But 3 bushings and bolts cost like 30bucks.. LCAs were in the 200s last time I checked. Depends on what your sanity and time is worth. [emoji106][emoji106]

I do have an extra bushing and bolt if you need one.. happy to send it over for whatever shipping is.

Glad Im not the only one with this issue.
Keep us posted, good luck!

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I have both lower strut bushings and bolts. I'll be looking into the camber bolts and bushings next.


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[T_Unit114]

Update. Bought some used Duratracs. Stock size. My coils and shocks are so worn out the drivers side rubs at fill left lock.

Brand new bilstein kit has been delivered. 5100 fronts with new coils, will be set on notch 7 (2.4 in lift according to the paperwork) and 5100 rear shocks. No lift planned back there.

Camber/caster bolt kits ordered, bushings ordered. Strut top plate assemblies ordered. Should be here tomorrow and I'm off for 4 days starting tomorrow. So I'm thinking I should be level by the weekend. Maybe go hit a trail or two and test out the new equipment.

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[daveray9]

Update. Bought some used Duratracs. Stock size. My coils and shocks are so worn out the drivers side rubs at fill left lock.

Brand new bilstein kit has been delivered. 5100 fronts with new coils, will be set on notch 7 (2.4 in lift according to the paperwork) and 5100 rear shocks. No lift planned back there.

Camber/caster bolt kits ordered, bushings ordered. Strut top plate assemblies ordered. Should be here tomorrow and I'm off for 4 days starting tomorrow. So I'm thinking I should be level by the weekend. Maybe go hit a trail or two and test out the new equipment.

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Where did you order?? I need new camber bolts now.

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[T_Unit114]

Where did you order?? I need new camber bolts now.

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I don't need them actually so I'll ship them if you like. Bushings and greaseable bolts. Pm me if you're interested.

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