I am trying to install Sprint Springs on my car, and I ran into some trouble when I found that the driver's side front caliper assembly has a bolt siezed in it so that the strut is stuck on there until I get this bolt off...

I have tried several things with no success:
Liquid Wrench (can't really get it where I need it)
Teflon Lubricant spray
Breaker bar (with a 5' pole added on for more leverage...this
started to strip the head of the bolt)
I was weary to try air impact tools because of the breaker bar situation. I have not tried WD-40 yet, but it is next on my list.

Anyone have any suggestions as to a course of action?

 

1. try some stuff called Aerokroil. I have yet to find a bolt that I couldn't un-freeze with that stuff and an impact wrench or breaker bar.

2. an impact wrench with a correctly sized socket will not round off the bolt head. it'll be much safer than a 5' breaker bar too. also the impact of it has a tendency to "pop loose" whatever's holding the bolt in place.

 

well it looks like you have tried the quick/easy and most commom methods to getting stuck bolts out.to me looks like you have to more options.

1) get a pair of vise grips and close them up as far as you can and still be able to lock em on the bolt and then use a hammer and hit the vise grips.or if your pipe is big enough use it to pry on the up on the vise grips..

2)get a propane torch and heat up the bolt..

also you said you can't really get at the bolt you did turn the wheel outwards on inwards whereever you need it that helps.. just pointing the little things out..

well good luck

 

the brake caliper or the steering knuckle?

the brake caliper..you can always unbolt the brake caliper by unbolting the brake pad bracket...(bigger bolts behind the caliper). the entire assembly will come out. then ubolt it from the brake line and take it to a clean work area and you want u need to on the bolt.

if it's the steering knuckle (two big bolt at the base of the strut)DO NOT USE VICE GRIPS! unless it's almost totally rounded off do not use vice grips. you should be using metric sockets/tools. if it's really that hard for u you can try getting a nut splitter and crack the nut and it should all fall out...make sure u buy new hardwar BEFORE you do this.

 

According to you description, I am working with the steering knuckle, but the nut comes off easily... It is the actual bolt that is frozen in place.

I was suggested by another friend, who is a mechanic, to use a torch to heat up the metal surrounding the bolt to try to expand the surrounding metal from the bolt. I may try this too.

 

Wait... EXACTLY which bolts are you trying to remove?

in order to change the struts, you only need to remove 5 bolts. the two bolts at the bottom of the strut, and the 3 on the top- on the "engine side" of the fender well.

Look at the pics of my CV joint replacement, and see if you can see in the pics which bolts you're talking about.
http://www.ee.utulsa.edu/~mblehm/pic.../car/cv_boots/
start about pic #7 and work your way to the end.. that's the part where I'm putting everything back together.

 

have you tried looseing the top 3 bolts then, jiggling the two bolts on the lower strut to knuckle and just moving it around until the bolt comes off? or just use a hammer and tap it out..??

 

Yes, I was aware of the five bolts. The bolt that was frozen was one of the two at the bottom of the strut. I took a propane torch that I had and heated the area (being VERY careful of the brake lines and CV boot) for about 5 minutes. Then I used the breaker bar, and "pop" it released.

Thanks for all of your help, the suggestions were excellent. My ride is sweet looking now!!