rotted front end link removal

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Wed May 18, 2011 6:25 pm

My end link bolts snapped on the bottom. I bought replacements but now I can't get the old ones out. They are soaking in PB blaster right now, should I keep trying use a hammer? lol

OB · Post by OB » Wed May 18, 2011 6:38 pm

Rear I assume? The bolts themselves are seized to the links? Put an impact gun on the bolt head, grab the link tight with a vicegrip, and spin it free within the link. If that doesn't work, I'd cut the links in half right down the middle, fixing that problem, and replace them.

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Wed May 18, 2011 6:41 pm

Front, the nuts broke off and the stabilizer bar is just hanging lol. I'm trying to get the old bolt (end link) out but it's not budging. I was hammering from the bottom where they broke.

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:07 pm

They are too rusted, looks like I gotta take it in to a shop.

OB · Post by OB » Wed May 18, 2011 7:19 pm

Does the bolt head turn? Try hitting the head of the bolt with a gun while hitting the bottom of the bolt with a hammer. I guess I'm a bit confused on exactly how it is seized.

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:31 pm

I don't see any bolt heads ontop of the end links like the new ones I bought. And the nuts broke off of the bottom of the end links causing the stabilizer bar to come off.

The end link won't move, twist, or nudge.

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:17 pm

Just hit the link with a hammer. Can you get a picture at least?

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:48 pm

I was smashing on it for awhile with no success other than covering myself in rust. We use road salt in Buffalo, NY so I don't think my hammer is gonna cut it. My camera cable is lost but it looks like this:

supercommuter wrote:Noticed this on the drivers side yesterday while replacing my exhaust manifold. Shouldn't there be a bolt or a nut here or something?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:23 am

Take a torch to the bushings. That way you can get a better look at the entire bolt.

If the endlinks are anything like the stock srt ones, there is no 'nut' on top. It's a 'sleeve' with a washer attached to the end. I'm guessing they seized together.

The best way to get them apart is to just take a grinder to them. Since you already have new endlinks, it doesn't really matter how bad you screw up the old ones. Although, I kinda confused as to why you can't just pull the bushing out from the bottom and pull up on the top of the endlink to free it; since you already broke the bottom bolt.

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Thu May 19, 2011 6:36 pm

JeffM wrote:Although, I kinda confused as to why you can't just pull the bushing out from the bottom and pull up on the top of the endlink to free it; since you already broke the bottom bolt.

Me too, haha. Bushings were torn off.

OB · Post by OB » Thu May 19, 2011 8:33 pm

Oh that's right, stock links use a washer with a small threaded portion, like a washer/nut combo type thing. I'd say either cut the washer off or get a bigger hammer. And put your purse down when you swing it.

jk

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:35 pm

Yeah, I think that little spacer is holding it up then. Thanks.

I also can't get that black spacer thing off above the bottom bushing in those pics. It's on ramps so I don't much of a swing distance, and the end link is right near the ramp so I can't hit it directly from the bottom. Wish I had a lift...

Edit: I'm gonna take the front wheels off and go ape shit on the it tomorrow with a variety of tools including a saw if need be.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat May 21, 2011 5:47 pm

You'll be fine taking the wheels off. The sway bar isn't gonna fly out at you or anything. The best thing to do is burn the bushings away and then cut with a grinder (metal cutting wheel attached) to break it.