How in god's name do you remove the lower lateral arm?. I've removed the 2 other bolts with ease, but the first one next to where the rotor is just won't come out of its place. I've been at it for hours. Is this thing threaded in? I've removed the nut, but the bolt won't move at all. This is the only bolt holding me from removing it to replace it. This is the drivers side front wheel btw. Anyone can shed some light on how you went about it. Thanks.
SoCal DSM 1996 RS-T: Under Construction 1999 GS AE: New daily driver "USING NO WAY AS A WAY, HAVING NO LIMITATION AS A LIMITATION"--BRUCE LEE
#32678, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 0
You are talking about the fork that supports the strut assembly correct?
The bolt is not threaded in, but the strut is exerting downward force against the bolt. Couple ways to go about it: loosen the clamp bolt that secures the fork to the strut tube so it can slide up, or place a jack and lift the fork slightly without applying pressure to the lateral arm.
Either way you need to relieve the pressure on that bolt for it to slide out.
#32679, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 1 Jan-24-10 08:02 PM by 96rs-t
Not the fork bolt, that one I took off easily. I'm referring to the lateral arm. The one before the fork bolt. It comes up vertically from the ball joint to the wheel hub assembly.
SoCal DSM 1996 RS-T: Under Construction 1999 GS AE: New daily driver "USING NO WAY AS A WAY, HAVING NO LIMITATION AS A LIMITATION"--BRUCE LEE
#32680, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 2
Originally posted by 96rs-t Not the fork bolt, that one I took off easily. I'm referring to the lateral arm. The one before the fork bolt. It comes up vertically from the ball joint to the wheel hub assembly.
So... the ball joint itself?
I have not had this problem on my 2GNT, but on the Trailblazer it was frozen and the seperating fork didn't do anything. I used a bunch of PB Blaster on it, and with the nut partially threaded on so that you don't mushroom the threads, tap down on that... worked on the TB.
No, this is probably not the right way to do this. I have done this successfully, but an alignment was done immediately after replacement.
#32681, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 3 Jan-25-10 08:51 AM by Flipboi89
40279c bolt that goes through the lateral arm and bushing? That was a pain in the ass. Like said above use a jack to support it and a about a can of pb blaster and hopefully you can get it out.
Car Status: P0140 o2 circuit number bank 1 sensor 2 Cel. Ill fix it tomorow lol.
#32683, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 4
i seriously give up. this is the biggest pita i've ever come accross working on this car. Just gonna take it to pepboys and pay an arm to get if fixed.
SoCal DSM 1996 RS-T: Under Construction 1999 GS AE: New daily driver "USING NO WAY AS A WAY, HAVING NO LIMITATION AS A LIMITATION"--BRUCE LEE
#32684, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 5
I gotcha - what you are talking about is the ball joint, not a bolt. And it seats in a taper which makes it difficult to remove.
Rent/buy a ball joint separator that looks like a clothes pin. Slap it on, turn the adjustment bolt which forces the opposite end to get smaller, popping the ball joint out...
#32686, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 7 Jan-28-10 01:52 AM by 96rs-t
ok, so now i have the new ball joint installed, but I can't torque it down at all. The ball joint just spins with the nut, ughz! Always has to be something. How do I torque these things without the ball joing spinning? It's still very loose.
edit: nvm, a little wd40 did it.
SoCal DSM 1996 RS-T: Under Construction 1999 GS AE: New daily driver "USING NO WAY AS A WAY, HAVING NO LIMITATION AS A LIMITATION"--BRUCE LEE
#32687, "RE: Lower arm ball joint (straight arm)" In response to Reply # 8
Keep in mind it is a tapered seat. Use a jack or something similar to apply force to the underside of the control arm to force the stud in place and from spinning.
