brittcrowell

So I intended spending the whole day working on getting the control arms replaced on my A8 today. The first official day of my spring break. I had hoped to get it finished tonight so my cousin and I could get it aligned at his shop in the morning, he is a tech at a GM dealer. Anyway I finally got to my dads and got to work on it about 3pm.

I've been soaking the pinch bolt for the upper control arms for the last two weeks. First one nut came off just fine, bolt wouldn't budge. Threaded back on the nut flush with the end of the bolt and beat on it a while. Nada! Moved to the other side and it was the same story.

Took off the tie rods to make room and found I could just get an impact gun in on the back side with a deep well socket. 5/8s fit better than the 16mm that the woman picked up on the way home. Hammered and impacted the crap out of it through a few cycles of the air compressor (30gal) with no results.

Dreading the drill out process I busted out the propane torch. Melted the rubber boots a little on the upper control arms (replacing them anyways!) and bang the thing busted loose with the heat and the impact gun. Other side was same story and took less time.

Tomorrow if the weather isn't too bad I'll start on the actual control arms. Stage 2.

Britt

DaveInSaltLake

there's a sweet spot where there's not much force on the bolt.