My brother and dad and I attempted to install my KYB struts and Progress Springs today. Well we got as far as taking off the tires, disconnecting the brakes, taking out the top 3 strut mounts - but none of us could take off the two lower nuts on the control arm. These are the ones that are 19mm on one side and 17mm on the other. From all the feedback and reviews it seems like nobody has had a problem with these, but we found them impossible to take off. We tried using a Liquid Wrench and a breaker bar, I pulled so hard I broke my 17mm socket! I'm not sure how to get these off - aside from having a shop loosen and retighten them for me.

Does anyone have any recommendations or general feedback about these two bolts? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

well, is it spinning and not getting looser, or just not breaking loose? You could heat the nut with a torch if you don't care about the old struts anymore.

 

Use PB blaster. Heat it up a bit and give it a try. If it still doesn't work its time to pay a pro or go get some airtools. I had the same problem with mine the first time but I now have the proper tools and suspension work is a breeze.

 

One suggestion is use a crescent, open ended, or preferably box wrench to hold the bolt in place while someone else pulls hard on the nut. With a 1/2" drive socket and a long pipe you should be able to get it. Don't forget to use large amounts of PB blaster.

 

to help you from breaking your socket again, go get a 1/2" 17mm short well impact socket from sears or somewhere. 6 point grip and doesnt' stand a chance of breaking with what you are doing.

 

Use a 17mm wrench on the bolt and a 19mm 6pt socket on the nut. You're supposed to PUSH UP on the nut not pull.

 

450 lb tq impact gun works wonders for those stubborn bolts...

 

Word! Porter Cable all the way baby. You?

 

Push up on the Nut to unscrew it? Isn't it relative to which side youre working on? I've been pushing the rachet DOWN / to the left / counterclockwise to unscrew the NUT - these bolts aren't reverse threaded are they?

 

Ingersoll Rand

 

Would it be possible just to break the nut with this tool and replace it later?
http://www.autopart.com/Tools/file/part328.htm

 

You are correct, it is relative to the side of the car. They are not reverse threaded or anything, so if you are holding the bolt with a wrench and turning the nut, you will want to turn it counterclockwise. When I said pull, depending on how whether you are turning the bolt or the nut and which side of the car you are on, you will pull sometimes and push other times, I was just using pull generically.