I remember Robbie telling me he compressed the spring then had someone jump on the axle while he pulled them out. I don't think he took that out. Then again I don't know how he got the new ones in.

 

O man...that sucks. It is allways a good idea to soak the bolt with spray. Something like WD40 or Letgo and let it soak in. It is probable rusted in. This may help a little. Good luck man. [scratch]

 

Stripping it? Are you sure you are using the correct size socket? If shouldn't strip at all. That bolt is a high grade of strength steel and if anything it should be ruining your sockets if anything. Um. Be sure to get the right socket on there and then get yourself a nice 2 foot piece of piping or something to use as a breaker bar.

I am assuming though that picture is not of your ST as it has drums. Is there a lot of rust on the bolt? It could just be fused in there and no amount of torque will turn it. Basically have to cut it out at that point.

 

I'm using a 15 mm and yes, that is not my car. The rust is minimal. Should I use a different bolt size, anyone know? I have a breaker bar.

 

Yeah, it's rusted in. I used a ton of wd40 so maybe I will have to try letgo...

 

PB Blaster...soak it and let sit.

that bolt SHOULD come out easily enough.......I didn't use a jack for that area though. My suspension was hanging free when we swapped springs.

AIR TOOLS HELP!



hope you get it man!

 

Go to the store and find yourself some of these. You should be able to compress it out with this kind of compressor.

http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=APO&MfrPartNumber=T70570&CategoryCode=3492

 

just get some P.B. Blaster on that bolt and let it sit for 5 min. THEN go at it.

 

So is 15 mm right???

 

That bolt goes through a metal sleeve which is probably where it's stuck.
Go to a hardware store and buy a cheap socket-you're gonna be smacking the crap out of it. Hose it down with WD40 or similar stuff. And I mean hose it down-all possible angles and directions. Jack up the control arm under the spring, but only enough to release any tension on the joint, so you are only going to raise it ab. 1/8". Put the socket on the bolt head and with a hammer smack it a few times. You may want to hold the socket with a pair of vise grips as it will go flying. You want to send shock waves through the bolt to break it free.
And if you completely bugger it up the new bolt# is W500746-S439.

 

Crap...I didn't have it jacked up...I forgot. That might have been my issue.

 

So 15 mm right????? Anyone????? Rep points will be added shortly.

 

soak that sucker in wd40 jack it up and use a spring compressor to take it out. the compressor you have should work you just have to get it around as many coils as possible. my friend has one that looks just like yourrs and he uses it pretty often on the rears.

 

Man...no one knows if it's 15 mm....

 

Just went out and checked bolt size.... and yes to 15mm. I tried both standard and metric. And the 15mm was the winner.

 

Just disconect the shock its self and it shound let the whole thing drop down.

And yes its a 15 ive done mine.

If it doesent work you can try to take out the camber bolt.

 

Thanks guys! Rep added. ^What happend to your control arm??? lol it looks like it's missing! lol BTW which one is the camber bolt...kind of new at this.

 

Its there.............camber bolt 2bolts in the middle when you look under the car..its to the left on my pic you cant see it tho. try the method i said it should work.^^^

 

The camber bolt is an aftermarket replacement. Go to the first photo you posted. See that bolt right behind and at the top of the brake drum and in front of the shock. That's the bolt a camber bolt would replace. It holds the upper control arm to the rear hub assembly. A camber bolt would give you some rear camber adjustment where none currently exists.

 

When you finally get the bolt out i would chain the spring to the car so it don't fling out an nail your pretty face then use the jack to lower your LCA. if you need more camber when your tires are sitting like this /---\ i recomend useing the SPC upper control arms manily because if the bolts aare not enough you'll end up buying the upper control arms in the end......like i did.

 

Did you get the job done?

 

its a 15mm... and that bolt has been alittle stubborn sometimes for me... but i put a floor jack under it to transfer the load of the spring back onto the suspension pieces and not so much on the bolt, like when the arm is suspended

 

Yes indeed, I hope you where able to get it out. Looking forward to seeing pictures with your new springs. Best of luck man.

 

Hey, thanks guys! I will have to wait a couple of weeks to do it now...my wife's b-day is next week.

 

So...it's offical, the control arm bolt is stripped. Is there another way to take off the control arm to get the spring off??? Or maybe is there another way all together to get the spring off?

 

Sometimes just undoing the shock mount, the sway bar end link, the UPPER control arm bolt and the use of a pry bar to move the lower control arm downward may be enough to jiggle the spring out. Having an extra set of hands (friend or whomever) is very helpful.