So here I am on a Saturday afternoon, decided that I would install my Auto spring leveling kit in preparation for my new tires. Made it about halfway through the instructions and now I am stuck...
So when I was trying to remove the nut holding the upper control arm on it start to come off part of the way and then about half way off it just stopped. Now the bolt and nut spin together and I have tried using vice grips, wrenches, sockets, sledge hammers, WD40 everything I can think of to get this thing off. I figured out that the bolt has a hex end of 10mm so I tried using to wrenches one to turn the bolt and the other to turn the nut and still no dice. It also wont turn to tighten back up. Here's a picture of how it looks:
http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3f108158.jpg

Has anyone else run into a similar problem and/or have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

Take a 10mm(IIRC maybe 12mm)open end boxed end wrench and hold the ball joint when you back the nut off. If the nut is over the end of it and you can get the wrench on use vice grips or channel locks to hold it above the nut.

Wayne

 

.....

 

I was trying that for a while, I was actually using a 10mm socket on the bolt and it started rounding off the hex. Maybe I'm just not trying hard enough.

 

The bolt that sticks through (where the vice grip is clamped in the picture) is now completely stripped, well maybe not completely but it is definitely not hex shaped any more. The only thing I can think of at this point is to apply heat. But I'm not sure where to apply heat (i would rather not buy a new upper control arm if I don't have to) or if it would even help me. Of course at this point I can't drive it and I kind of need it to drive to work so I'm willing to try anything.

 

Try jacking up on the lower control up to "pop" the ball joint back in place to hold it while you remove the nut.

Or take a racket strap and pull the upper control arm down to the lower so that the spindle holds the ball joint from spinning.

Wayne

 

Still no luck! Without the ratchet straps in place the ball would just pop out of the joint as soon as I started to turn the nut. I also had to use a sledge to even get it in the joint. With the ratchet straps holding it down, I get some resistance but the bolt still turns with the nut...

 

Pics?

Wayne

 

I had a hard time getting my balljoint undone. I had used a hoist when I did my level, but I put a jack under the LCA and lowered the hoist. I then had to pry down with a 4 foot bar on the uca and have my buddy burp the impact on the nut.

 

Get it? I've honestly never seen one come loose like that. I have had tierods do it though. Can you drive a pickle fork between the nut and the spindle? Jack the spindle up or pull the uca down first. The fork mite put enough pressure on it to stick it. Turn the nut loose while tapping the fork in more and more.