Rear Inner LCA Bolt

[MikeD]

I'm trying to lower the rear end of my car and the inner LCA bolts are rusted on TIGHT. What is the easiest way to get these bolts out? My car is raked, and I probably won't be able to try installing my rear springs again until Tuesday.

[Dearlove]

rivet gun with punch

[zmatt]

liberal application of your penetrating oil of choice. I prefer WD40 and PB blaster. Let that shit soak for a good 10 minutes. Try again. If that doesn't work a hand held torch may do it. Also make sure you have a breaker bar. Suspension bolts are seriously on there. I find most bolts can be removed with a lot of PB and my 3 foot breaker bar. I've only had to torch maybe 3 bolts, and that was on my italian roadster.

[Vetruck]

If I am not in a hurry, ill let PB wortk for a few day rather than relying on the torch. I do not like to heat parts unnecessarily. PB generally will loosen anything over the course of a few days of spray treatments

[MikeD]

Sorry for the late update. A bunch of WD40 combined with a mere 12" breaker bar worked for me. The 8" wrench I had wasn't cutting it so I guess those extra 4 inches gave it the torque needed to break free.

[Vetruck]

Its always nice to read on a forum where people post the final outcome. So many posts will only show questions and suggestions, but people looking for answers rarely get to see a final outcome unless the original poster comes in to conclude the post- Well done :)

[W202FTW]

For future reference, some application of a blow torch will help loosen up very old bolts. Very commonly used when doing alignments.

[97C28O]

When you removed the Inner LCA Bolt, are you referring the the 18mm or 19mm bolt? Closest to the center of the car?

Is that the only thing I need to remove if say I want to change the pads? I remember when I did my springs. I took off the lower shock bolt, sway bar link bolt, and the hub bolt..

[MikeD]

When you removed the Inner LCA Bolt, are you referring the the 18mm or 19mm bolt? Closest to the center of the car?

Is that the only thing I need to remove if say I want to change the pads? I remember when I did my springs. I took off the lower shock bolt, sway bar link bolt, and the hub bolt..

Yes the 19mm bolt. That's pretty much all you have to remove to even change the spring.

[Mike51809]

I unbolted the sway bar too and the shock for good measure but you probably didn't need to lol

[97C28O]

I unbolted the sway bar too and the shock for good measure but you probably didn't need to lol

Thats good to hear. I tried that then I thought about it and it looked no way the LCA will swing freely. This will definetly help with my spring pad change.

DOes anyone know the torque spec for the 19MM?

[MikeD]

I'm not sure if the torque spec actually matters there because the 19mm bolt just holds the LCA in place and acts as a pivot point rather than a fastening point.

[Jims202]

Did you use a spring compressor to take the spring out or did you just let your LCA come down slowly?

[97C28O]

Did you use a spring compressor to take the spring out or did you just let your LCA come down slowly?

the Rears do not need one, it is optional... People just drop the LCA, supported, and slowly for the spring to unload and it will be free to remove.

[Jims202]

Thanks,I was just wondering.

[Mike51809]

I just dropped the lower control arm on The front and the back, much cheaper!

[MikeD]

In case the controlled release didn't work, I also used a spring compressor on the rear so no parts would come flying out at me. It takes just a little more effort for a lot more safety.

[Mike51809]

Lol yeah yeah you could do that too :-P