Help with Rear Lower Control Arm Removal/Install

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

mtnzorro

mtnzorro

10 Year
Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Threads
20
Messages
214
Location
Roswell, GA
So I picked up a set of the Metal Tech rear lower control arms, and was planning to get them installed yesterday afternoon, but instead hit a minor roadblock that i've been unable to figure out. I installed the rear upper control arms a couple of weeks ago without any real issues, but as I was taking off the rear bolt, I realized that my shock was going to prevent me from being able to actually get the bolt out. I've got the TJM adjustables. Not a great pic, but you can see what I mean here:



I tried and tried to find some way to wiggle it out, but i think my options now are either moving (or removing) the shock, or cutting the bolt. In playing around with the shock (i had the shop install these so i'm not that familiar with the way they are installed), i removed the lower nut/washer/bolt combo but could not for the life of me get the lower part of the shock to budge. I suppose my other option is try to loosen the plate that the shock is attached to at the frame, and see if I can get the top end to move some?

If anyone has any suggestions on how best to get the shock out of the way for the split second i'll need to pop that bolt out of the rear lower control arm, that would be great. i'd love to get these bad boys installed before the weekend!

Thanks.
 
With the lower shock bolt removed it still takes some force to get it off the "pin" it sits on. I would keep trying to lever off the lower shock and swing to the side to get the LCA bolt out.
 
The bushings are pretty bindy on the shock mounts - after removing the bolt, just get a pry bar on the backside of the shock loop and it'll pop off.

And yes, it's annoying how this is required to get the bolts out, but so it goes.
 
Ok, great--good to know. I was unsure of how hard to get after that, as I didn't want to damage my shock in this process. Thank you both!
 
Pro-tip - when you go to put them back on, lubricate them with something (I'm sure people will tell me that WD-40 is inappropriate, but that's what I used) and they slide on ridiculously easily.
 
nukegoat said:
To slide the shock off the pin? That seems way unnecessary.

I'm sure the jaws of life would work well too
Click to expand...

Suppose he meant if you ratchet strap the front and rear axles together prior to remove the bolt they don't try and walk away from each other as easy and not bind as much. I failed doing mine and had to ratchet strap thing back to get aligned.
 
retrofive said:
Suppose he meant if you ratchet strap the front and rear axles together prior to remove the bolt they don't try and walk away from each other as easy and not bind as much. I failed doing mine and had to ratchet strap thing back to get aligned.
Click to expand...

Yes, nothing to do with the shock, take the shock off. :cheers:
 
Use the bottle jack closest to the bottom of the shock that should relieve some tension.
 
Ok, that makes more sense. i was trying to envision how to use the straps to rip the shock off. will definitely use the straps for the arm/bolt install, if it's anything like the upper arm install! thanks!
 
Success. Thanks for all of the help on this. After getting a little more aggressive with the pry bar i managed to move the shock just enough to pop the bolt out. Passenger side shock actually moved without needing to pry, making that a piece of cake. Ratchet straps were key for lining up holes on the install each time. These things are burly:
 
Shock does NOT have to come off the mounting pin to clear the LCA bolt. Just back out the lower shock bolt about 4-5 threads, pull on shock to move it forward, and the bolt will slide right out. Just did a set of arms yesterday, and the new shocks were already installed. Make it easy on yourself. John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom