Torsion Bar removal troubles

[geosnooker2000]

I'm in the middle of replacing all front-end suspension parts, including 2 new LCAs. Granted, the truck is 17 years old, and I doubt that these adjuster bolts have ever been touched in all that time, but the torsion bar key cover bolts cam off with relative ease. The adjuster bolt, however, is not wanting to budge without that feeling that I'm about to twist the head off the bolt. Is that normal? I have the vehicle on jack stands high enough so that the LCAs are hanging freely. I just sprayed each bolt (left side and right side) with PB Blaster about an hour ago after I saw how tough this bolt was to turn. I tried it about 45 minutes later. No luck. Is this because the bolt is in compression? I would have thought that would HELP... not hurt its ability to loosen.

Any comments welcome.

 

[delexploder]

Grab a cheap plumbers torch and put some heat on the cross bar they screw into , also an impact gun helps

 

[koda2000]

What are you trying to turn the bolt with? Rust not withstanding, they're torqued pretty tight. You may need a piece of pipe to get some leverage. I prefer to use an impact wrench on bolts like that (less chance of breaking the bolt) but heat and leverage are your friends. If you're going to use a hand-held torch, use MAP gas (yellow bottle) rather than the blue bottle, as MAP gas burns much hotter.

 

[geosnooker2000]

Went to Harbor Freight this a.m. hehehe.... impact wrench, pneumatic ratchet, metric 1/2" drive socket set, and a digital caliper (unrelated). I love spending money.

 

[swshawaii]

As koda suggested and I said in your "other" post, use HEAT to soften the blue factory threadlock compound.
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Torsion Bar adjuster bolts giving me fits | Ford Explorer and Ranger Forums - Serious Explorations


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[geosnooker2000]

As koda suggested and in your "other" post, use HEAT to soften the blue factory threadlock.
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Torsion Bar adjuster bolts giving me fits | Ford Explorer and Ranger Forums - Serious Explorations


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I will enlist the help of a torch for sure. Thanks for the advice. I just figured as many threads as I have seen about a) replacing LCAs, and b) doing the torsion twist, that I would have run across someone mentioning this issue. So when I came upon it myself, I wondered if something was abnormal about mine.

 

[geosnooker2000]

Well, the heat and impact wrench made that a 45 second breeze! Man! Impact wrench FTW! I'm in love. Who knew life could be fun again!!!

 

[geosnooker2000]

So, upper control arms (just the outer of the 2-piece on the passenger side), Lower control arms, new outer tie rods, new sway bar connectors.
Driver's side first = 3 days
Passenger side second = 3 hours

It always goes that way, no matter how much you study before you start.
Am I right? Am I right?

ETA: I didn't even touch the torsion bar adjuster screw on the passenger side. I just let the LCA rotate downward until the bar and cam fell out.