2007 Lucerne front strut bolts

[Smith1000]

The ones on top of the strut came loose easy, but the lower bolts are stuck. The nuts came off the lower bolts easily, but the bolts will not back out. I put an incredible amount of pressure on them with a socket and they won't budge. Does anyone know, are they threaded in to the hole, or will they pound out with a hammer?

[Smith1000]

Got them loose. Hit them with a bigger hammer.

[Blue Bowtie]

Commonly, they are not threaded into the strut or the knuckle. They often have a splined body to prevent unwanted turning, so as you found, loosen and back off the nut to a point where it will protect the threaded end of the bolt, then strike it to break it free.

[Stealthee]

As Bowtie said, the strut bolts are likely splined. I know thats how they are on my Grand Prix.

[Smith1000]

Yep, thanks, the bolts would never rotate out as they are splined, or serrated. Once they were knocked out, replacing the bearing and top mount was fairly easy. Reinstall took 15 minutes.

The top pieces are plastic and I could see where the old bearing was compressed, or flattened is spots because the plastic housing does not hold up to the weight placed on it. Looks like that part should be metal to last. I will probably have to replace it again at some point.