Cant get front end apart for level 08

[BIGBREW]

Kinda pissed, went out and bought $1200 worth of tires, and a level kit for my truck, went to my buddys tonight and we cant get it apart, hit the lower strut bolt with a sledge hammer and it didnt budge, everything is rusted together, thanks Upstate NY....Not a happy camper!!!

 

[Sparkyy]

I've posted this a couple times but my 07 is from Albany area so I feel your pain!

I had a garage do my front end and they used pneumatic tools and heat to rip my front end apart, even the mechanic said it was hairy getting that done.

Gotta love those upstate NY winters, now if only NJ could get some of the snow like up there.

 

[BIGBREW]

Yea I think I am going to buy new lower a-arm bolts and bushings and lower strut bolts and bushings and cut it all out, press in new bushings where necessary and put it back together, at least I will be able to align it correctly after putting new tires on.

 

[Sparkyy]

Good luck with it, which ever direction you go but show up some pics after you get everything back together and working again.

 

[98hemi-ram]

I just went through this same nightmare on my 06 the lower strut bolt was totally seized on one side. I managed to get the nut off but the bolt was still seized in the bushing. I ended up torching my shock apart and pushing the bolt and inner bushing sleeve out as one. Canadian winters really make things seize up good with all the salt they use.

I'd suggest ordering your new lower strut bushings from NAPA (I think I've still got the part number here somewhere) the dealer will want to sell you the whole lower control arm for $500 a piece. I used a balljoint press to push my new bushing in so I didn't have to remove the whole control arm. Good luck with the rest of the install getting those bolts out was the hardest part for me.

 

[98hemi-ram]

Here's the part numbers for the lower strut bushing.

Moog K200183

Napa NCP 2673738

Raybestos 565-1375

They are all the same part just from different companies. I used the napa ones on my truck.

 

[BIGBREW]

Cool how about the part numbers for the lower control arm bushings and bolts. They are going to have to be cut out also, so how about part numbers for the lower control arm bolts and bushings and the lower strut bolt and pushing part numbers

 

[98hemi-ram]

Sorry that bushing is the only one I have the part number for. I never had to take the rest of my control arm off and I managed to salvage my old bolt once I had it out I managed to pound the metal sleeve apart and get it off my bolt. Then I just cleaned it up a bit with the wire wheel and reused it again.

 

[still_bluenoser]

I installed the RH Bilstein 5100 last night. I broke the lower shock bolt... Took some effort lol.

Once the upper control arm and sway bar was disconnected it pounded through easy enough.

I went and got two replacement bolts and nuts. The new ones appear to be galvanized.

 

[still_bluenoser]

LH side was even worse.. Lower bolt took 4 hours to remove without destroying the bushing.

After all that though the truck is transformed. The Bilsteins are amazing.

 

[still_bluenoser]

Keep at it, they're worth it!

 

[BIGBREW]

My buddy is going to cut out the lower a and lower strut bolts and replace the bushings and bolts in them, Ill probably have him throw my new tires on it while he has it.

 

[moparman]

Heat and an impact gun will be your best friend in this situation

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2

 

[still_bluenoser]

Heat and an impact gun will be your best friend in this situation

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2

Impact gun is only good for getting the nut off the bolt. Once its just the bolt, spinning it with an impact will destroy the bushing.

LH side I ended up cutting the lower fork off the shock to get it out, than cut the head off the bolt. Heat, but not too much because that would cook the bushing...

Finally able to move it a bit, than it was penitrating fluid, hammer and punch. Punched it through til it stopped, cut it off again, back and forth until it came out.

I've got about half a bottle of anti-seize on the front end of my truck now..

 

[BIGBREW]

should be fixed up next weekend