control arm issues

[Blozzi]

Anyone have any suggestions for removing the passenger side control arm sub frame bolt? Finished the driver’s side with no problems. Can’t seem to get any leverage on the bolt, and gaining access to the passenger side bolt is a pita.

[Charlie]

From the suspension forum last week:

What car?

If it's an M42 or an 'ix, just slit your wrists right now.

If not, get the following: Large amounts of PB blaster, a cheapie propane torch, a long box end 22mm wrench (I like the craftsman 22/20mm combo), and a stubby 22 mm wrench.

Remove the heat shield from the passenger side to give yourself some more room in there, the driver's side is pretty good to go already. Soak the nut in PB for a good while, let it sit, try to break it loose with the big box end, if/when that fails, resort to the torch to heat it up, then soak more PB, try again with the box end, Lather, rinse, repeat. You may have to stick a cheapie jack underneath the BJ as it may start to rotate

After that, just switch to the stubby to make it quick. To pull it out, get a long ass socket extension, stick it on top of the balljoint end, break out the mini sledge to knock it out.

Have fun.

-Charlie

[Blozzi]

car is a 87 325is, i'll try those suggestions and see what happens, thanks

[kowalski]

i just did my M42 there is a certain technique, you can turn it like 1/8th of a turn every try and eventualy it comes off, it sucks but it only takes like 5 min to get her off use an open end wrench and when you climb under undo the sway arm bushing to drop the sway arm like an inch to give you a little more room and then just work at her for a while and she'll give.

[Jordan]

the pass side is easy...

22mm socket, ujoint, lots of extention... get it from above.

the drivers side is the pita.

[kowalski]

that would work too, but isn't the exhaust in the way, i remember thinking about that can't remeber if i didn't have enough extensions or if the exhaust was in the way, or if i realized after i had finished, probably the last one... did that with my gas tank dropped the whole thing to change the pump and saw that damn access hatch under the seat and swore myself to sleep that night.