Help! Lower control arm bolts

[Steve P]

Don't know where to start.

I've got to replace the front springs and shocks on the van. Found when I was doing the radius rod bushes that the n/s spring has gone and the shock is naggered too, so am going to do both sides.

Took the nuts off of the 3 bolts on the lower control arm (where the radius rod is connected) and found that I was going to have to replace one of the bolts because the thread is naggered on that. Got two bolts out fine, but can I get the third one out - can I hell as like!

Couldn't knock it back up through as it won't budge, so thought yep I'll cut the top off of it and then try and hammer it down. It still isn't going to move.

Has anyone ever had this kind of problem, and if so, how did you resolve it please?

Think I'm going to have to take the control arm off and take it to someone with a bench press to see if they can get it out.

Cheers everyone

Steve

[Fritz]

An alternative is to grind the head off the offending bolt and then support the arm and then hit remaineder of the bolt with a good quality punch with an FBH.......


Regards


Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Steve P]

Thanks Fritz I shall ask at college tomorrow to see if I can borrow a punch.

Why is nothing ever easy?

[ermie571]

because its a VW!! And if life were easy, we wouldn't need this fantastic club, and I wouldn't have you as friends!

Roll on difficult!

Good luck,

Em
x

[chriscburgess]

just had exactly the same problem. could not get the third bolt out.

In then end had to take the van to Elite who said they had to apply 8 tonnes of pressure to remove it - not sure a punch can meet that!

[Steve P]

In a way it's good to know that I'm not alone and I suppose I was half expecting this to be the only way to sort the problem out.

The van isn't going to be back on the road tomorrow then.



Just updating to say that I've got the bolt out now. I ended up drilling it out.

Thanks for the help and advice

Steve