Rear upper control arm ball joint pinch bolt

[Fastpitcherus]

Frustrated that I cannot get this bolt to budge. It has occurred to me, however, I may be stupid. So I seek wisdom.

Is the bolt head welded to the pinch bracket, therefore requiring me to remove the nut? Or, is the nut welded to the pinch bracket, thus requiring me to remove from the bolt head? Or are neither the nut nor the bolt head welded to the bracket, meaning I can remove from either end?

Bleh.

 

[tommudd]

Not welded, its just a bolt,
has to come out to install the new one

 

[Fastpitcherus]

Yeah - that was a really dumb question wasn't it? LOL. Sometimes I should just leave it to the pros.

 

[Snail Farmer]

Don't feel too bad, the first time I replaced that arm, it took me about 10 minutes to figure that out.

 

[Fastpitcherus]

Another question. I finally got the nut off, but I can't get the pin out. Is the pinch flange also threaded, meaning I have to unscrew the bolt to get it out? That'll be tough with the rounded head.

Or does the pin just slide through the flange?

 

[Fastpitcherus]

It must just slide through, because the head has a welded piece on it to stop it from rotating when tightening the nut.

 

[Fastpitcherus]

OK, so how does one get out that f#$@^*g pin?!?!? Won't budge.

 

[tommudd]

If this is the first time it has been replaced then yes it can be a huge PITA.
With the nut part way back on take a punch and try to drive it out. I had one that was stuck so bad we had to cut it off and get a new bolt from the dealer . But all of the others have come out with some "gentle" persuasion.

 

[Fastpitcherus]

I suppose 6-7 years of rain, snow, salt, mud, etc. would seize me up a bit too.

Problem is I can't get a good whack at it - pretty tight in there. But I'll try again tomorrow before the Packers game. But not during!

 

[tommudd]

I suppose 6-7 years of rain, snow, salt, mud, etc. would seize me up a bit too.

Problem is I can't get a good whack at it - pretty tight in there. But I'll try again tomorrow before the Packers game. But not during!

Take the whole thing off , ( bracket on the rear diff etc ) just three bolts and so much easier to get to when they are stuck like yours

 

[Fastpitcherus]

Happy to report that I finally got this project finished. Learned a bunch.

 

[Luke]

Sounds like a how to is in order

Congrats! :waytogo:

 

[Fastpitcherus]

Not sure I'm you're "how to" guy. And I basically followed all the sound advice I received in this thread and other, similar threads. Wasn't a tough job mechanically speaking - quite simple actually. Just tough getting some bolts out. Lots of swearing, bruising and lost knuckle-flesh.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Not sure I'm you're "how to" guy. And I basically followed all the sound advice I received in this thread and other, similar threads. Wasn't a tough job mechanically speaking - quite simple actually. Just tough getting some bolts out. Lots of swearing, bruising and lost knuckle-flesh.

That's what the Forum is for - help out a fellow Jeeper save a few bucks and get the job done :favorites13:

Bob