Help with lowing bolt!
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock Texas
Help with lowing bolt!
Hey guys, I went to lower my Z last night and had no problems with the front left but when i got to the right side I hit a snag.
The bolt is seriously stuck. I soaked it in PB blaster last night and still nothing it was stuck enough that it broke one of my sockets and is really trying to round off the bolt.
If anyone has any idea how I cant get past this please let me know
Thanks
Josh
The bolt is seriously stuck. I soaked it in PB blaster last night and still nothing it was stuck enough that it broke one of my sockets and is really trying to round off the bolt.
If anyone has any idea how I cant get past this please let me know
Thanks
Josh
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Soak it some more with PB BLASTER. Fill up the little trough surrounding the adjustment bolt at the top of the spring. You might have to do this more than 1-2 times. When you can see the lubricant wicking on the bolt threads beneath the spring you know it's penetrated fully.
With the bolt now damaged, you may have to resort to VICE GRIPS. Or weld a nut to the top of the bolt. Many have discovered the bolt(s) are literally welded with corrosion to the metal threaded insert in the spring. Nothing will free it. If you try to force a corroded bolt, you may break the insert within the spring. If that happens, you have limited choices. Cut the bolt off (bad choice in my opinion) or buy another spring.
The rubber adjustment bolt "shear pad" may be vulcanized to the control arm. I used a metal putty knife and more PB BLASTER to free it. Once that was done I could turn the adjustment bolt by hand.
With the bolt now damaged, you may have to resort to VICE GRIPS. Or weld a nut to the top of the bolt. Many have discovered the bolt(s) are literally welded with corrosion to the metal threaded insert in the spring. Nothing will free it. If you try to force a corroded bolt, you may break the insert within the spring. If that happens, you have limited choices. Cut the bolt off (bad choice in my opinion) or buy another spring.
The rubber adjustment bolt "shear pad" may be vulcanized to the control arm. I used a metal putty knife and more PB BLASTER to free it. Once that was done I could turn the adjustment bolt by hand.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
From a previous forum suggestion:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...lts-stuck.html
After removing the bolt, this info might help:
http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/hobbi...5_Lowering.htm
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...lts-stuck.html
After removing the bolt, this info might help:
http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/hobbi...5_Lowering.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I bought a set of Z51 springs used and had the same problem with the font bolts. One came loose after soaking in PB Blaster for a couple of days but still required using a pipe wrench on the washer on the bushing side of the bolt. The other is still in the spring. Soaked it as well but when I used the pipe wrench on the washer in broke off the bushing and the washer. So now I am going to try welding a large nut on the top and soak again in PB Blaster and maybe apply some heat being careful not to melt the spring itself. Easier for me as the springs are not installed and can worked on a bench. If that doesn't work just buy another spring with the bolts already removed. I have a set of aftermarket front lowering bolts already. If anyone knows the tap size for the bolts it would be appreciated as if I get the other out I wanted to clean up the threads before installing the aftermarket bolts. Good luck.
Last edited by alxltd1; Nov 12, 2011 at 07:12 PM.
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
There is a product called Kriol that works better than PB Blaster. No affiliation just thought you might want to give it a try.
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/
