Lower Control Arm Bolt will not Come Out

[robert1700]

4 hrs of work and I can not get the 22m lower control arm nut out, driver side, I have not gotten to the passenger. Any recommendations?

Pb blaster, 24'' breaker bar, heat, impact wrench and it will not budge.

Quickly put the car back together so I can get it out of the garage but need to get this replaced. Should I take it to a shop?

[JC3series]

If you have replacemants, i would say try a torch.

[Racerhoze]

Get a replacement nut and bolt and use an angle grinder to cut that b!tch off.

[mytmous]

it nut off or the bolt out? the bolt out was my issue, until the shop guy told me to hit the side of the bar next to the nut, 2 whacks and it popped out, this was after hitting it for an hour

[dantheman67]

Really.. did you try putting all your weight on the breaker bar? Try doing a pull-up on the end of the breaker bar. Also be careful you're turning the bolt the right way. It's really easy to get mixed up depending on which angle you're hitting it at.

[robert1700]

the nut, hehe. Anyway will not budge. Looking at the PO car records show that the lw cotrl arms were replaced only two years ago but its hard to believe. The uppers look new, Meyle HD stamped. The lowers are stamped with made in China.

[JimiJ]

When I had the same problem, I went to my local Harbor Freight and picked up one of these. I wasted two hours first but with this tool, it took less than 15 minutes!

[dantheman67]

X2, amazing tool that only costs $19. You dont need anything but that tool, but grease the bolt before using it, or the bolt may strip mid-job.

Gl getting that nut broken loose OP.

[acepilot]

Mine exact HF tool broke in half! right where it pushes on the bolt. That's how stuck they were. GL

Ace

[robert1700]

thank you, think I am going to get one of those.

this is what I am doing
http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Suspension/Lower_arm.htm

to remove the bolt I am having trouble with
I am placing a floor jack under the bolt and just purchased the forged ball joint separator.

Where does the ball joint separator go?

[McGeezy]

I struggled with this problem on my wifes E32... for three days. After that I mickey-moused it together enough to drive it over to Les Schwab. Problem solved. Hurt real bad to fork over the dough, but after 3days, two sheared separator tools and one ruined pickle fork, I was done with it.

I wish you much success

[ryzman]

would a pneumatic air gun work? im about to start this project and did not think i would have issues.

[M Quick]

As told, always hit on the side of where it's mounted onto while you hold pressure on the joint to go out, remember you must have the force pushing it out while waking it really hard on the side of the mounting surface, this will usually set any ball joint free.

Even i have struggled with ball joints on my e34 that has gotten so stuck that not even a 40lbs sledge hammer would let it go until after like 20 hits..

That or use the tool above, it will work wonders if you can make it fit.

[Racerhoze]

Oh, the ball joint. Pickle fork and don't be a wuss

[desertpir8]

Pickle fork + sledge hammer will do it, if you are talkin about the balljoints.

[robert1700]

Got an update...

My car is doing to same thing, when turning hard or when going over a large bump the steering wheel shakes very hard. When I started with the lower control arms these were the only items that had any play, and they were made in China. Here is what is currently on the car,

Lem. Tie rods and idler arm- about 2 years old and 18K.
Meyle HD upped Control Arms, same as above.
Brand new Lower Control arms, yes I torg. with the car on the ground.
Steering rack original, car has 112K but has records of power steering fluid change. I just changed the power steering filter.

Is this just a E34 thing? My grandmothers e39 does not do this, thats the best comparison I have

[dantheman67]

Steering box, not steering rack, just for clarification- I don't think any E34s came with rack and pinion.

The steering wheel shaking is not an E34 thing, it's a suspension problem.... if you know the tie rods and UCAs are Known Good, I'd say change out the LCAs with Lemfoerder... see if that fixes your problem

[jehu]

Worn Idler Arm Bushing or Center Link ball Joints? Loose Pitman Arm?

[Racerhoze]

I don't think any E34s came with rack and pinion.

the IX models did, but their front suspension design was also totally different.