Renewing front coilovers

[Silvervanman]

As above replacing the originals with nice new gaz gold pros and cant get the bottom bolt out !The bl**by things seized solid. I have the nut off but bolt wont budge?Do i need to get a bigger hammer ? Does anybody know if the spacers at the bottom of the shocker are loose like the top or are they welded to the wishbone, as i dont want to cut them if they're welded ?
Thanks in advance
SVM

[brogenville]

I had literally exactly the same problem last week whilst fitting some nitrons. The nut came off, but the bolt, even though it could be turned, just would not budge. After spending hours belting the crap out of it with a club hammer I eventually resorted to the angle grinder. I guess I kinda failed (because the old damper did get destroyed in the process), but the f@?cker did come out in the end. It seems a tiny amount of corrosion between the bolt and the inside of the bush had locked it in place.

On the up side, the other three corners were actually fine.

I'm not suggesting you do what I did, I'm just saying good luck!

[Steve_T]

Worth trying some heat?

[ridds]

Spacers, should be loose not welded to the lower arm.

a) try lots of pen fluid.
b) try turning it lots.
c) use a bigger hammer.
d) use the angle grinder.

Suspension bolts can be a git. My front, upper, rear, offside suspension bolt would not come after 2 days of trying, lots of a, b and C above.

Got to the point where I was hitting so hard that I thought the chassis would suffer so got busy with the angle grinder with a 1mm blade.

Will dig out the pics of the bits that were left.

[plumAJP]

I take it you have all lifted the bottom arm slightly so the compression in the spring is not pushing on the bottom bolt and washers.

when I removed mine it was a bit tight but I got a bolt the same size as it and used the threaded end agains the other threaded end and hammered it through slighlty then I got my disc in a head lock type arrangement and lifted it slighlty and the bolt slid out lovely.

if the bolt is turning then it can't be siezed in the barrel that hard surely. lift the bottom arm and use something the same size as the bolt to tap it out from behind.

[brogenville]

On my ne the bolt was turning, but not inside the bush. It was actually so stuck inside the bush that the whole bushe was rotating inside the damper eyelet. It sounds simple, and on 3 out of 4 corners it was, but that fron off side one just wasn't for shifting on mine.

[Silvervanman]

Angle grinder it is then ! Dont like the idea of it, but sometimes a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do !All this nice weather and the sodded thing is stuck up on the ramps all coz of one poxy bolt. Fecker. Still love her to bits though.Will keep you posted. Might need more advice on settings for new shockers, so watch this space. Cheers all
SVM

[Mr.Cerbera]

Silvervanman said:

Angle grinder it is then ! Dont like the idea of it, but sometimes a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do !All this nice weather and the sodded thing is stuck up on the ramps all coz of one poxy bolt. Fecker. Still love her to bits though.Will keep you posted. Might need more advice on settings for new shockers, so watch this space. Cheers all
SVM

Hi SVM,

What was the update on this ?

Did you get it sorted out coz I had EXACTLY the same prob on mine last month