I started my install of the LC/Tundra lift and have run into a roadblock now that the rears are finished. Even after soaking the bolts in WD/40 and PB Blaster, I cannot get the bottom shock bolt or the top bolts loose to remove the assembly. Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

 

A little bit of heat should loosen up the bolts..

And the bolts on your top plate can be just cut or snaped (if you have the new hardware for them that is)

 

I had to use a breaker bar.. it really did the trick. then you will want to unbolt the lower 4 bolts to the lower ball joint so you can push the control arm down to slide it out

 

looks like I will be borrowing the torch from my ski shop lol. and going to find a breaker bar. Thanks for the pointers.

 

I didn't have too much of a problem with the top ones on my truck.

I used an impact wrench on the bottom one, which I know helped a lot because I unsuccessfully tried to use just a wrench at first.

 

The trick for people that attempt this later is to hit all the nuts/bolts that you need to undo about once a day for a week before you attempt the install. This gives the PB blaster plenty of time to penetrate the rust and allow you to break the items free. Just hitting the stuff while you're working on it can help a bit but not nearly as well as the other method. One more trick is to use a propane torch to heat the bolt threads up and then quench them by spraying the penetrant on top (the extreme heat and cold can break the rust bond and cause micro cracks for the penetrant to enter.....thus wicking the penetrant in and making it more effective), but be careful for obvious safety reasons and have a fire extinguisher there if you need it.

I just sprayed mine a week in advance and they were a breeze with air tools.

 

Good point Jamie.

I forgot to mention that I did spray mine a few times with PB Blaster about a week before I did mine. I know it helped on the top ones.

 

if the breaker bar cant quite do it just slide the handle from your hi-lift or a floor jack on the bar and you have more leverage. if that cant get it then that is REALLY stuck

 

The breaker bar should do the trick, try to stay away from cutting things, something will get them apart before you have to resort to that. Hit the breaker bar with a hammer if nothing else works.

 

Yeah - cutting is a last resort unless it is the known Best Method Available!

Those nuts on top shouldn't be that bad and the bottom bolt just takes a breaker bar and a bit of leverage. If you can't soak them for a few conecutive days in PB, spray them down and tap with a hammer a few dozen times or so. Repeat!

 

I appreciate all the advice...Now its time to go get more pb blaster, if i can find any in my town, and start spraying away. Hopefully I can get this done before the cold weather returns. Wrenching away at this in my apartment parking lot has been fun.