Only way to remove LCA = sawzall?

suspendedHatchsuspendedHatch Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
So the story is that I have 2 degrees excess positive camber on my front pass side wheel due to previous owner. I replaced the knuckle since it had a bad wheel bearing. This didn't fix the camber. So I'm thinking it has to be the LCA. Unfortunately all the LCAs I've tried to pull from the junkyard have the same problem. The inner bolt is fused to the sleeve, so the bushing rips and spins freely making it impossible to remove. The only thing I can think of is to cut the bolt in two places with a sawzall (that I don't have).

It's virtually impossible to get an impact in there and I fear that it wouldn't help anyway.

Does anyone have a better suggestion? Do I need to swap the entire subframe with the LCAs?

Possibly a bent radius rod?

Comments

  • turbo_tegturbo_teg Council Member
    u could sawzall them and replace bushings and get a new bolt....
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    You should look on rockauto or something for new lower control arms. When I did mine, I had new OE bushings pressed in, and when the guy I had press them asked why I didn't just get new LCAs, as it's about the same amount, I kind of laughed. After double checking, he was right.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    You could use a die grinder as well, but either way you'll have to cut the bolt on each side of the bushing.
  • curtcurt Wagonist
    torch
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    curt wrote:
    torch


    For a VERY experienced metalworker, yes.
  • woodiwoodi Wagonist
    When I had to get mine out I cut on either side of the bolt with a hack saw (it really didn't take that long and works fine if you are a little patient and don't have a sawzall). Then I still pushed out the center of the bushing trying to get it out. Eventually I carefully cut through the metal outside of the bushing in two places until I was to the LCA and then was able to work it out. Getting the new one in wasn't real easy either I think I ended up pressing it in with a gear puller the new bolt and a big socket to keep everything lined up.
  • suspendedHatchsuspendedHatch Wagonist
    I don't know what happened to my original reply.

    Thanks for everyone's responses! I can't believe they're only $56 at Rock Auto!
  • shh_yogi_shhshh_yogi_shh Wagonist
    same thing im going thru now..its crazy i had to use a sawzall for 2 bolts on the passenger side and im gonna have to use it for all 3 on the driver which makes me nervous cause of the stock spring
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