2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission DT Control Arm Install

[JKuehl78]

I'm trying to put on some DT control arms and for the life of me can't get the old uppers off. They connect through the frame and I can't get them to budge. I got the nut to come off the bolt and tried to hit the bolt out with a small sledge hammer and it feels like I'm hitting a solid surface. It won't move. I fished a socket into the hole in the frame and hung on the ratchet. It will not move.



If anyone has any pointers for this it would help out a great deal.



Thanks,

Jeff

 

[JIM S.]

I just went through that. . its not easy..... I ended up haveing to torch them off... ... the bolt rusts into the sleeve surounded by rubber... so any beating you manage to do it is absorbed by the rubber. nasty job!

Jim

 

[JKuehl78]

I already ordered new hardware from the dealer. I'm going to either use the air hammer or torch... Thanks for the reponse, now I know what I'm up against.

 

[krs]

If you can, try getting an impact on the bolt head through the frame hole to see if you can get the bolt to turn. More likely it'll be torch and air hammer from the outside. I had to waste a left side bolt before it would budge. There's just no room to get a healthy swing on it with a sledge and drift.

And it looked like it was gonna' be easy, right?

 

[JKuehl78]

Of course, it LOOKED like a no-brainer, that's why I started on a Sunday afternoon and why the truck is still on jackstands. I'm going to have to go the brutal route. I tried to get an impact in the frame hole on the passenger side but the 4" exhaust, and auto transmission say "NO".



I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one having this trouble.



Thanks for the input.

 

[AKTRAPPER]

just ordered new link arms and trackbar from DT. glad i read this so i make sure i have my torch tanks full. have to make sure one of the guys didnt walk off with em. happens sometimes.

keep the shiny side up.

 

[JKuehl78]

After 3 days of annoyance I finally got the old arms off. I had to torch and torch and torch EVERYTHING. I had a few really good fires under the truck. Be sure to have an air gun ready. I'd torch for about 30 seconds then pull out to blow out the fire. Once I got the bushing out I could cut the sleeve and the bolt out. It was a MAJOR pain in my a$$.



I don't have much experience torching so I had a friend, who is real good with one, do it. He maintained all the holes in the frame and bracket... it looks like we just took the bolts out.



Good Luck, let us know how it goes.



Jeff