Front strut replacement problem

[Roger Blose]

I am in the middle of replacing my front struts with a set of KONI yellows and have hit a snag. I have disassembled all of the front components but I cannot get the splined to bolts out that connect the strut to the knuckle. The nuts came off and I backed them off to a flush point so they can help with the hammering. I have hits these with a hammer and then a sledge but they will not move at all. Any ideas would be greatly helped before I throw in the towel!

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[NGOT8R]

I struggled with that too a few years ago. You have to choke up on the handle and strike them really hard. Pause for a second with each strike (time on target to transfer the energy), not just quick rapid strikes. I ended up buying a 10# sledge hammer just for that job.

It’s tough because there isn’t enough room to really deliver strikes the way you’d like to, so the process is a bit slower.

I have seen a video of someone using an air hammer and that looked easier.

 

[Mach VII]

I too struggled until I placed a jack under knuckle and took some of the pressure off and then they came out with a BFH. good luck!

 

[NGOT8R]

 

[RTR077]

as hard as you can and try a few angles. They took me a while until I struck it on the sweetspot.

 

[JTM88]

I sprayed some penetrating oil on them the first time I did the struts, and it seemed to help.

 

[Biggsy]

I too struggled until I placed a jack under knuckle and took some of the pressure off and then they came out with a BFH. good luck!

This is it right here!

I struggled until I put a jack under the knuckle.

 

[boB]

One answer may be to take pressure off the strut, put pressure on the bolt (big c-clamp_, back up the other side with a heavy piece of metal, and then whack it with the hammer. That worked for stuck ball joints.

 

[pinksurfer]

haha. i'm in the process of removing the same bolts. if you turn the wheel you can get a better angle on them. I used a 4lb sledge.

I would not hit them with the nuts on them. too easy to ruin threads. the ends are designed to mushroom a little and use a dremel/file to clean them back to round.

 

[Roger Blose]

Many thanks everyone, I tried all of the above ideas and still could not get these bolts to release. My car has only 24K on it and is clean as far as rust. I have wacked on these bolts with a decent sledge and after overnight soaking, still no luck. I reassembled the front end and now looking for some pro help.

 

[KilgoreLSU]

I know you threw in the towel.. But jacking up A-Arms from the bottom to relieve pressure on bolts to minimum. Putting nuts on backwards and flush.. and wack the hell out of them.

You have to hit them really really hard. PB Blaster, etc.. is not going to help. They are not threaded in, they are pressed in.

I used a regular hammer... I did not require a sledge hammer. Just very hard strikes..

 

[NGOT8R]

Many thanks everyone, I tried all of the above ideas and still could not get these bolts to release. My car has only 24K on it and is clean as far as rust. I have wacked on these bolts with a decent sledge and after overnight soaking, still no luck. I reassembled the front end and now looking for some pro help.

Man, I sure hate to hear that. I was hoping you were able to get them out. I almost gave up too, but I stayed with it until I got those muthaduckas.

 

[blankman]

I wish you had the luck I had. I was around 31k when I did mine, same condition being a florida car. At most it took 4 hits with a 4lb short handle to remove all 4.

Try again possibly? Ive read everything between from how mine were to 6 hrs of on and off again pounding. If you don't plan on keeping the old struts possibly try heating it with a torch were the welds are before you strike it or even right between the bolts. I would think the heat wouldn't be enough to expand the bolts, but may possibly expand the strut bolt holes enough to make it easier? Im not an expert so take it as you will as I have no idea if the gas or fluid in the shock would react horrendously with heat.

You can do it boss, don't give up!!

 

[TonyT930]

Take a second jack and place it under the knuckle. Lift a little to take some pressure off the joint

 

[Pistol_91]

You have to get really pissed and hit it hard as hell. Mine honestly slid right out with minimal hammering. Try to loosen the bolt head side a few spin and hammer it, spin it, hammer it. Should work. Other suggestions on here are spot on too. Remember once you knock the top one lose your camber will be thrown off. So either mark it so you know where to put it back at, or get an alignment.

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