lower control arms
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
lower control arms
just about had it removing both control arms. down to one bolt on both lower. they are the bolts closer to the firewall on each side side. dont have enough clearance as they are ramming into the crossmember with about 1 in. to go before they come out completely. cant move the a arm or crossmember up or down to get clearance. what the hell am i doing wrong please let me know. thanks!!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 244
Likes: 6
From: harrison twp mi
had the same problem,saw a few threads on just wiggling the arm and bolt and it will come out.for me it was easier to pull it out far as i could,cut in half.bought a new bolt and put it in from the other side.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 17
From: woodbury new jersey
agreed, i was told if you wrestle with it you can get it out, and im sure that works for sume people but it didnt for me. i even tried prying it out with a large crowbar and couldnt even get close. i just removed those braces, 5 minutes to get it out, then just reinstalled the bolts from the inside
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
i just removed those braces, 5 minutes to get it out
then just reinstalled the bolts from the inside
My only question is how hard the GM plant assembly guy was laughing when he put those bolts in ***-backwards. Or alternatively, has someone been able to train chimps to work with power tools?
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,922
Likes: 700
From: WI
I reinstalled the drivers side LCA last night and the brace is a little in the way. Just for my own info I tried installed the bolt from the other side and the spring was in the way. I left the front bolt out, tipped the arm, and pushed/threaded the bolt in. It is tight with the brace there but it worked fine for me. The LCA has to be held at the point the bolt can wiggle. If you try to ram it in it will get stuck. I just turned it in with my fingers, it went much faster than dropping the braces. I hope the other side does too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
I removed both of my lower control arms without removing the braces too. Lots of wiggling and a couple of swear words
Do you mean to say that you replaced the arm as well without removing the bolts? If so, it must be a model year thing. Mine is a '94, and there may be some difference in position of that engine mount brace between the L98 and LT1.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,695
Likes: 1,666
From: moraga ca
Well, I was also able to get one side off by pullling like hell to deform the rubber bushing enough to allow the arm to come off. But it was very apparent that I would never be able to get the arm (with new non-compressible poly bushings) back on without removing the bolts completely.
Do you mean to say that you replaced the arm as well without removing the bolts? If so, it must be a model year thing. Mine is a '94, and there may be some difference in position of that engine mount brace between the L98 and LT1.
Do you mean to say that you replaced the arm as well without removing the bolts? If so, it must be a model year thing. Mine is a '94, and there may be some difference in position of that engine mount brace between the L98 and LT1.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
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Just wiggle the arm and the bolts will come out. One side of mine came out in 2 sec while the other side took a couple min. Still easier than removing the braces.
