Control arm replacement - why so tight on the bolts!?
06-14-2019, 06:31 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Control arm replacement - why so tight on the bolts!?
Argh! I replaced the front upper control arms a couple of weeks ago since the bushings were shot and they were a piece of cake. Tried the front lowers yesterday and couldn't get the ball joint out on the first one so that's getting done at a local mechanic. Was working on the rear lowers today and the rear bolt is in so tight I can't get it to budge with my 3' long breaker bar or 1/2" drive impact driver! Decided I've had enough torture for two days and this will be done by the mechanic as well. Ordered rear uppers which I'll have them do as well to complete the job. Sigh, I really like this car, but some things are just such a PITA. Regarding the rear control arms I'm replacing them for two reasons. One, the car is 13 years old and they've never been replaced. Two, the rear end bounces a bit going over bumps which I figure is worn bushings. Anyway, we'll see how it rides afterwards.
06-15-2019, 10:49 AM
#2
Argh! I replaced the front upper control arms a couple of weeks ago since the bushings were shot and they were a piece of cake. Tried the front lowers yesterday and couldn't get the ball joint out on the first one so that's getting done at a local mechanic. Was working on the rear lowers today and the rear bolt is in so tight I can't get it to budge with my 3' long breaker bar or 1/2" drive impact driver! Decided I've had enough torture for two days and this will be done by the mechanic as well. Ordered rear uppers which I'll have them do as well to complete the job. Sigh, I really like this car, but some things are just such a PITA. Regarding the rear control arms I'm replacing them for two reasons. One, the car is 13 years old and they've never been replaced. Two, the rear end bounces a bit going over bumps which I figure is worn bushings. Anyway, we'll see how it rides afterwards.
06-15-2019, 02:53 PM
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
06-15-2019, 02:55 PM
#5
Instructor
Thread Starter
06-15-2019, 03:44 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
I have not done any suspension work on my Cayenne yet, and this could be completely wrong for the nut you're stuck on, but since you're stuck ...
I have come across some suspension nuts (on bolts) on other cars that are serrated/locking with a ratchet type flat flange surface that locks into the surface when tightened. These are not the common ~spiral, smooth ridges on nut flanges, the ones I'm talking about are radial teeth with deep, sharp teeth that really lock in.
The trick on those is to loosen the bolt end, not the nut end. You could beat on it all day on the nut end and it will not move due to the locking/ratchet/teeth things. But once you loosen it at the bolt end, that locking flange surface can separate from the lower surface and you spin the nut off easily.
And if that does not apply to the situation you're in here, maybe some other time it will. Good luck.
I have come across some suspension nuts (on bolts) on other cars that are serrated/locking with a ratchet type flat flange surface that locks into the surface when tightened. These are not the common ~spiral, smooth ridges on nut flanges, the ones I'm talking about are radial teeth with deep, sharp teeth that really lock in.
The trick on those is to loosen the bolt end, not the nut end. You could beat on it all day on the nut end and it will not move due to the locking/ratchet/teeth things. But once you loosen it at the bolt end, that locking flange surface can separate from the lower surface and you spin the nut off easily.
And if that does not apply to the situation you're in here, maybe some other time it will. Good luck.
Last edited by oldskewel; 06-15-2019 at 04:03 PM.
06-16-2019, 01:17 AM
#7
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I have not done any suspension work on my Cayenne yet, and this could be completely wrong for the nut you're stuck on, but since you're stuck ...
I have come across some suspension nuts (on bolts) on other cars that are serrated/locking with a ratchet type flat flange surface that locks into the surface when tightened. These are not the common ~spiral, smooth ridges on nut flanges, the ones I'm talking about are radial teeth with deep, sharp teeth that really lock in.
The trick on those is to loosen the bolt end, not the nut end. You could beat on it all day on the nut end and it will not move due to the locking/ratchet/teeth things. But once you loosen it at the bolt end, that locking flange surface can separate from the lower surface and you spin the nut off easily.
And if that does not apply to the situation you're in here, maybe some other time it will. Good luck.
I have come across some suspension nuts (on bolts) on other cars that are serrated/locking with a ratchet type flat flange surface that locks into the surface when tightened. These are not the common ~spiral, smooth ridges on nut flanges, the ones I'm talking about are radial teeth with deep, sharp teeth that really lock in.
The trick on those is to loosen the bolt end, not the nut end. You could beat on it all day on the nut end and it will not move due to the locking/ratchet/teeth things. But once you loosen it at the bolt end, that locking flange surface can separate from the lower surface and you spin the nut off easily.
And if that does not apply to the situation you're in here, maybe some other time it will. Good luck.
Cheers,
Tom
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06-16-2019, 02:18 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
How did you figure yours out? I think I probably followed one of my basic strategies - when something should be possible and it seems impossible, try something a little different - and stumbled on the solution. I do remember how EASILY the bolt end came undone, vs. what I had been doing on the nut end. One day, hopefully this story will help someone out of a jam.
06-16-2019, 02:00 PM
#9
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Glad to hear that. LOL. I'm sure many would read my comment and think I was nuts, so I guess there's now confirmation of at least two of us.
How did you figure yours out? I think I probably followed one of my basic strategies - when something should be possible and it seems impossible, try something a little different - and stumbled on the solution. I do remember how EASILY the bolt end came undone, vs. what I had been doing on the nut end. One day, hopefully this story will help someone out of a jam.
How did you figure yours out? I think I probably followed one of my basic strategies - when something should be possible and it seems impossible, try something a little different - and stumbled on the solution. I do remember how EASILY the bolt end came undone, vs. what I had been doing on the nut end. One day, hopefully this story will help someone out of a jam.
Cheers,
Tom