Stripped front lowering bolt, PLEASE help!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Simpsonville SC
Stripped front lowering bolt, PLEASE help!!
Lowering my Z, Back was fine, followed all instructions and supported leaf. Bottom of the bushing was free but bolt still stripped. Tried vise-grips. NO GO!! Help, any suggestions????
Thanks
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 3
From: Ventura, CA Fight On Forever
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
You should be able to remove all tension from the bolt by jacking up the spring with a bottle jack, putting a piece of wood or hockey puck between the jack and the spring. The bolt will turn freely by hand from below. If you are simply lowering the car, turn the bolt counter clockwise until it is flush with the bottom of the spring. You are then lowered on stock bolts.
If you want to lower more, you need to cut away one (or two for a slammed look) washer with a hack saw. Be sure to cut the same amount from each side or you'll end up lopsided, like Howard
Best,
mtv
If you want to lower more, you need to cut away one (or two for a slammed look) washer with a hack saw. Be sure to cut the same amount from each side or you'll end up lopsided, like Howard
Best,mtv
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 32
From: USA
DIRE,
If you haven't already, soak the threads in some type of penetrating oil overnight.
Get a pair of vice grips or channel locks on the metal part of the bushing(under the spring). The surface area there is bigger and you should be able to get a good bite on it.
It doesn't matter which way you are trying to turn the bolt, it won't turn right now!
Some of the bolts are very tough to get out.
Dave
If you haven't already, soak the threads in some type of penetrating oil overnight.
Get a pair of vice grips or channel locks on the metal part of the bushing(under the spring). The surface area there is bigger and you should be able to get a good bite on it.
It doesn't matter which way you are trying to turn the bolt, it won't turn right now!
Some of the bolts are very tough to get out.
Dave
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Very good suggestions above. I had the same problem about 3 years ago 
The trick that worked best for me was I soaked the bolt overnight with a lot of WD40 and bought some Craftsman sockets from Sears that are used only to remove stripped bolts. I think I paid $30 for them or so.
There are some one Ebay right now and they look like this. This worked for me like a charm!
HTHs
The trick that worked best for me was I soaked the bolt overnight with a lot of WD40 and bought some Craftsman sockets from Sears that are used only to remove stripped bolts. I think I paid $30 for them or so.There are some one Ebay right now and they look like this. This worked for me like a charm!
HTHs
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Branchburg, NJ
Originally Posted by D.I.R.E. C-5
Lowering my Z, Back was fine, followed all instructions and supported leaf. Bottom of the bushing was free but bolt still stripped. Tried vise-grips. NO GO!! Help, any suggestions????
Thanks
Thanks
I have the same prob w/ my fronts. I know the feeling- it sucks BIG TIME. Especially when you hear everyone sayin "oh, it should turn by hand, yada yada yada..." The next thing I have to try is unbolt the lower control arm and get vice grips on the metal "hat" thing. Not too excited about unbolting that control arm though
Let me know if you ever get it lowered, I'd love to get some more advice! Chris
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Simpsonville SC
Thanks for all of the suggetions. I finally broke down and disasemble the a-arm to get at underside of the bolt. That still didn't want to turn so I removed front spring to put on bench where I couyld get some leverage. Finaaly got them turned down. HOLY S**T they were hard to turn, but I got them with a 24" pipe wrench. SO all lowered now and back together.
Thanks again!!
Jim
Thanks again!!
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
i had to do the same thing last w/e on a 98 that has seen winter n.east driving, the adjuster was frozen in the spring, removed spring, soaked w/ pb blaster overnight and put adj. in vice while turning spring--got it
