2002 explorer front strut lower bolt

[c2harvey]

Hello,
I am trying to replace the front struts on my 02 explorer but I have run into some difficulty. When I turn the lower bolt, it seems like the rubber on the strut is turning with it, making it impossible to get it turned. I was able to get the nut off, and tried hammering the bolt out but it wont budge. I have tried putting a jack under the strut and under the lower control arm and it still wont come out. When i turn the bolt it will only turn a little bit at a time, with alot of resistance from the rubber, and when i let go, it goes back to where it started. Any tips on getting the bolt out?

 

[matt0248]

heat. get a propane torch and melt the rubber out. it will smoke to beat hell but that will be the easiset way.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

Do you have the rest of the suspension loose enough that the strut is hanging freely? It could be the upward pressure of the control arm holding the bolt in place more that the rubber of the shock.

 

[Ronin8002]

Do you have the rest of the suspension loose enough that the strut is hanging freely? It could be the upward pressure of the control arm holding the bolt in place more that the rubber of the shock.

x2. Have you disconnected the swaybar?

 

[c2harvey]

yea, i had the swaybar disconnected, i tried putting a jack under the strut with no luck, tried it under the control arm with no luck, tried prying the control arm down, and the strut was loose at the top and still no luck, so i decided to just put it back together and let my mechanic take care of it.
Thanks for your help.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

yea, i had the swaybar disconnected, i tried putting a jack under the strut with no luck, tried it under the control arm with no luck, tried prying the control arm down, and the strut was loose at the top and still no luck, so i decided to just put it back together and let my mechanic take care of it.
Thanks for your help.

Can you get another bolt/screwdriver/rod of slightly less diameter and drive the original bolt out with a hammer? I have found that you just are not trying hard enough if you are not using a sledge hammer or crowbar to work on an automobile!

I never had any luck putting a jack under the bottom of the strut and trying to force it up either. I think it binds just enough against the control arm that it does not want to pop loose that way.

 

[rocco123]

Air Hammer or 10X rivet gun... if U have access

 

[c2harvey]

I tried a hammer and the bolt still wouldn't budge.
thanks for your help.

 

[ignis]

C2Harvey. What finally did the trick for you? Did you ask your mechanic how he got it off?

I'm having the same issue with my driver side strut. Been slowly working on it for over a day now!!!

 

[c2harvey]

i didnt get a chance to ask him, my mom had to pick it up. She said she thought he used heat and something else, so i would try a large torch.

 

[ignis]

For anyone else having trouble with this, I finally got my strut off. I used a pack of 5 Milwakee Sawzall blades (24TPI) to cut through the bolt TWICE! I had to cut on each side of the strut. On the front of the vehicle, I had to cut from underneath the control arm. For the rear side of the strut, I found it much more comfortable to cut from above. I'd guess this process took me about an hour. I'd already invested countless hours on this single bolt. So, this actually gave me some therapeutic relief to cut-up that mother-!*#$#.

 

[JethroBodine]

I used a 3" socket extension as a punch. Hammered it right out.