93 cavalier strut bolt

erndog72 · #1 03-29-2008, 02:43 PM

I have new struts to put on my Cav. I have done struts before, so no problem. However, after removing the nuts from the lower two strut bolts I ran into a problem. The top bolt will not come out to save my life. It has the weird head with two flat faces and the rest is round. I have spread the jaws on two craftsman wrenches trying to loosen it. I have beat on the head with a maul and drift. I have nutted the other end and beat on it. I have beat on the forged section in the middle. I air hammered the head. I even put a pipe wrench on the head at one point. Yes, I was trying the right direction. Nothing will budge at all. The lower one did come loose, though.
Is there a special socket wrench that fits these, and if so where can I get one? Any other suggestions are VERY welcome.

kwk39018 · #2 03-29-2008, 03:49 PM

Try using heat.Heat up the bolt as much as you can.

erndog72 · #3 03-29-2008, 04:18 PM

Unfortunately, that is the one thing I don't have available right now.

muff34 · #4 03-29-2008, 09:26 PM

some parts places have a "loan-a-tool" program going . autozone etc....
try some PB blaster alot of people swear by that stuff. Wish I could get some here...lol

rhandwor · #5 03-29-2008, 09:40 PM

Lisle makes a tool which holds the top of the strut and a combination wrench should work. Usually if you use a deep socket and an impact wrench they will loosen up with out holding the top nut. You could try a pipe wrench or channel locks on the shaft and a combination wrench on the big nut. If you can fit it in you could use an electric angle grinder and grind the nut until it splits.
Try to get a free loaner at Auto Zone or Advanced like the other person suggested.

erndog72 · #6 03-30-2008, 07:40 PM

Talking apples and oranges here. I am concerned with the two big bolts at the bottom end. Thanks anyway.

rhandwor · #7 03-30-2008, 08:07 PM

The one has a cam on one side for alignment purposes. Take a punch and make a mark on the strut and cam. I always used a combination wrench on the bolt head. On the otherside I used a 1/2 inch impact wrench and impact socket. Otherwise use a combination wrench on the bolt end and a 1/2 inch breaker bar with a good 6 point socket.
Make sure to use a measure and transfer the punch mark to the new strut.
If you make an error use a two foot level and set the tire the same as the other side. Then get a wheel alignment. This is important as you can ruin a new tire in a couple weeks time.

kirkwood158 · #8 03-30-2008, 09:46 PM

of course you are talking about the two lower ones even though you said you got them and the two flat sides are where the bolt is splinded and you only need to back the nuts off so far ...even with the end of the bolt then give a sharpe hit with hammer to knock splined bolt out

erndog72 · #9 04-02-2008, 06:53 AM

Sounds good. Did not work. I have beat the living crap out of that thing. Thanks for the note about marking, etc. I am way past all that stuff, but doesn't matter much if it won't come apart. The cammed bolt will come out. The other one will not. It must have molecularly welded itself in during the last 15 years or something. I really don't want to turn this over to a professional just for a stuck bolt.

rhandwor · #10 04-02-2008, 08:40 AM

Buy a can of P-B Blaster and spray the nut for a couple of days. Use a hammer on the bolt end and smack it a few times. Use a small ball peen hammer and hit it all around the nut.
In worse case ask a friend with a impact wrench to loosen it for you. Otherwise go to an indepentent shop and ask for a price to loosen the bolt and nut. You might have to ask a couple. A quarter hours shop time around $20.00. I used to have a shop and people have asked me and I did it for them.
Harmonic balancer pulleys that they spend two days trying to loosen. I hit it with an impact and let them tighten by hand them self so they could get it off when they got home.
Otherwise buy an angle grinder at Home Depot or Lowes if you just grind the nut when you get close to the thread hit it with a hammer and chisel. Or just grind it off and go to a scrap yard and buy a used bolt and nut somebody else has removed.
Pep Boys used to sell grade 10.9 nuts or go to a hardware. The bolt will be around $15.00 so its worth a trip to the yard.

G0ldRush · #11 04-05-2008, 07:42 PM

The only way to get those bolts is very simple put the nut back on the bolt and leave it equal flush, take a 25 pound sledge hammer and give it a big bang, its the only way!!! those bolt are built with locking lines around it it wont turn, you have to take them out like a big pin

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