Control Arm Bolts

[Great Offender]

If I'm in the wrong thread I apologize but this did affect my ability to effectively alter my suspension.

I am unable to loosen the bolts on the control arms. I will admit that this was on jack stands in my driveway because I do not have access to a lift, and I did not use a large breaker bar. Felt like I was going to break the bolts.

Suggestions? So far I have only tried penetrating oil and elbow grease. When I was younger the boys and I would have just put heat to it. I have also researched this and don't see a downside but before I put my little propane torch to the bolts does anyone have a better suggestion?

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[KevinM60]

The front LCAs are torqued to 190 ft lbs. I had to buy an impact wrench to break mine. It won’t hurt em you just have to make sure to not try and torque them back down with the impact wrench but use a torque wrench to get back to spec.

 

[JTenn]

Lots of muscle and a long breaker bar. They will break loose.

 

[jeepers29]

I used a breaker bar and a cheater pipe. They be tight!

 

[kevman65]

You have to watch the use of heat, the bushings won't take it well.

 

[Great Offender]

All excellent answers. I will get a longer breaker bar and have my son, the perpetual gym machine, apply pressure.

You have to watch the use of heat, the bushings won't take it well.

This was the information I was looking for. I imagine the bolt will survive but the bushings?. Thank you!

 

[kevman65]

All excellent answers. I will get a longer breaker bar and have my son, the perpetual gym machine, apply pressure.


This was the information I was looking for. I imagine the bolt will survive but the bushings?. Thank you!

Not sure of their make up, but for simplicity we'll call them rubber and the heat will ruin them.

Now, an induction gun might be useful.

 

[dayusmc]

I had to buy an electric impact gun. I bought a Ryobi that has a lot of power. My 600 lbs didn't work for those bolts...
I bought this one
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287202898

 

[KevinM60]

I had to buy an electric impact gun. I bought a Ryobi that has a lot of power. My 600 lbs didn't work for those bolts...
I bought this one
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287202898

That’s the one I bought. Works like a charm. I already had a ryobi electric drill that I use for a lot of stuff so I didn’t have to buy the charger but I did get a special on the batteries, $99 for 6ah and 4ah set that was the same price as buying the 6ah by itself.
I now have a good quality impact wrench in my arsenal of home tools to get jobs done more efficiently
like we say, “You’re only as good as your tools”.

 

[dayusmc]

That’s the one I bought. Works like a charm. I already had a ryobi electric drill that I use for a lot of stuff so I didn’t have to buy the charger but I did get a special on the batteries, $99 for 6ah and 4ah set that was the same price as buying the 6ah by itself.
I now have a good quality impact wrench in my arsenal of home tools to get jobs done more efficiently
like we say, “You’re only as good as your tools”.

I have DeWalt and Ryobi tools. I couldn't find a DeWalt that had the power this one does.
On my last Gladiator I couldn't get the control arm bolts loose with my big DeWalt impact gun. Breaker bars with long pipes on them nothing. After 45 minutes of sweating and not succeeding I went and bought thst Ryobi. To be honest when I bought it I didn't have high hopes that it could break those bolts loose. I was presently surprised when it took them off with no effort. A must for a Jeep owner!!!

 

[JTenn]

I have DeWalt and Ryobi tools. I couldn't find a DeWalt that had the power this one does.
On my last Gladiator I couldn't get the control arm bolts loose with my big DeWalt impact gun. Breaker bars with long pipes on them nothing. After 45 minutes of sweating and not succeeding I went and bought thst Ryobi. To be honest when I bought it I didn't have high hopes that it could break those bolts loose. I was presently surprised when it took them off with no effort. A must for a Jeep owner!!!

Yeah, but you know, all that previous work and sweating "loosend" them up. ?

 

[KevinM60]

I have DeWalt and Ryobi tools. I couldn't find a DeWalt that had the power this one does.
On my last Gladiator I couldn't get the control arm bolts loose with my big DeWalt impact gun. Breaker bars with long pipes on them nothing. After 45 minutes of sweating and not succeeding I went and bought thst Ryobi. To be honest when I bought it I didn't have high hopes that it could break those bolts loose. I was presently surprised when it took them off with no effort. A must for a Jeep owner!!!

That is something I learned a few weeks ago when I installed the AEV 2” spacer lift kit with no prior frame or suspension experience with Jeeps. These things are very robust and built like a tank compared to my S10 daily driver or any other passenger vehicle I’ve ever worked on. I thought I would get away with using a 24” breaker bar but couldn’t break the rear LCAs and even twisted my 1/2” drive extension while trying. I went right out and got that impact wrench and a set of impact sockets and that did the trick. Lesson learned.

 

[dayusmc]

It is a little pricey, but it will get the job done. Time is money. I rarely mess with breaker bars now, I am to old. I have 4 different battery impact guns, thst is all I use.
A note on that, I always put all bolts in by hand and uses wrenches or ratchets and sockets for tightening. The only exception is I bought a 17lbs torque limiting extension to torque the suspension bolts. I could not find a 190lbs one. Without a lift I am never able to get the leverage I need to torque past 120lbs with my torque wrench. I wish I could fond a 190lbs, but 170lbs was the closest I could find...

 

[Lives The Dream]

I had to buy an electric impact gun. I bought a Ryobi that has a lot of power. My 600 lbs didn't work for those bolts...
I bought this one
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287202898

That page shows them using a chrome deep well socket in the first picture?

 

[Lives The Dream]

Using an air wrench rated for 325 lbs. took them off quite easily.

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