Stubborn Uppper Control Arms

[MassHoe04]

Long time no post! New job with agency take home vehicle and very crazy summer with work, so nit much time either the Tahoe and a few short trips cross-town.

Time for annual safety inspection... fail. Upper ball joint was bad.

Upper control arm bolts would not budge with hammer, so I went and got an air hammer. Still no luck!

I failed RMV safety inspection with bad upper ball joint. Bushings look like crap, so I wanted to replace the arm with new assembly. I gotv the ball joint out of the knuckle, but I could not get the two bolts out at all.

Decided to pick my battles and just do what needed to be done to pass inspection. Popped a new ball joint in. At some point, I'd like to get the the control arms next spring when it warms up again.

Tips/tricks/procedure suggestions? I know I'm not the first to have this happen...

Cut through bushings and both ends of the bolt with cutoff wheel? Is that best or only way? Would need new bolts at that point.

Thanks!

 

[dkad260]

Could you not get the nuts loose or just removing the bolt from the assembly?

At the 3:40 mark, he was using an air hammer. That's actually surprising they are that stubborn...hth.

 

[89Suburban]

Long time no post! New job with agency take home vehicle and very crazy summer with work, so nit much time either the Tahoe and a few short trips cross-town.

Time for annual safety inspection... fail. Upper ball joint was bad.

Upper control arm bolts would not budge with hammer, so I went and got an air hammer. Still no luck!

I failed RMV safety inspection with bad upper ball joint. Bushings look like crap, so I wanted to replace the arm with new assembly. I gotv the ball joint out of the knuckle, but I could not get the two bolts out at all.

Decided to pick my battles and just do what needed to be done to pass inspection. Popped a new ball joint in. At some point, I'd like to get the the control arms next spring when it warms up again.

Tips/tricks/procedure suggestions? I know I'm not the first to have this happen...

Cut through bushings and both ends of the bolt with cutoff wheel? Is that best or only way? Would need new bolts at that point.

Thanks!

I had to cut mine out. Take the nut off. Cut the head of the bolt off. Remove the cam plates. I cut the a-arm hoop off the mounts to get more room/access. Pry the frame ears enough to get a metal cutting blade in the gap to cut the bolts. It's a workout. PB Blaster, heat, impact hammer didn't so jack sht for me. And be careful not to knock the locating pins for the adjustment cams out. If you have the factory plastic alignment locks label them and put them back in the same positions. Take pics for reference.

Broken camber bolt, HELP!

Hello all, newbie to the forum looking for help, trying to change upper control arm, nut side broke off in bushing :( was going to sawzall it off and get a new bolt but wanted to make sure I dont damage the brackets on the frame. Ive read to pry the bracket away enough to get a sawzall blade...

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