I've been working on getting the lower strut bolts (ands nuts) off. I can't figure out why the bottom ones won't come out even after the nut is off. It seems like soemthing is binding it, but being my first suspension job, I can't figure out what. I have the car jacked on the A-arms (hope this is the right term) because i couldn't find another jack point that seemed safe to me. I've tried many different penetrating oils and a propane torch a few days later. These suckers don't want to budge!

 

The bolts are splined and are probably rusted at that. I put the nuts back on until they were even with the end of the bolt. Then used a BFH to drive out the bolts.

Needed to buy new nuts at the local GM dealer, but the bolts were OK.

RBob.

 

i second the bfh. my passengers side, the most lower bolt on the bottom was stuck / rusted in. so i used some wd40 let it sit for awhile then used the biggest 24mm i had and worked it up and down to kinda lossen it up, then put the nut back on and started hitting it after a few wacks it came out.

 

Ok, I've been using a really big hammer, and a 5 foot cheater bar... and I broke a socket or two

I was thinking of cutting it out, but i can't figure out how I would get in there with my Dremel. I will be getting new nuts and bolts and putting some Never-seize on there when I put the new ones in.

lets hope weling in a plate over the old strut towers works, there was nothing holding the struts in, but luckily they were so bad they didn't exert any force

 

I had this problem once. Jumped a curb in my '86 around a sharp turn, corrected the skid and thought I was cool for a split second- and then the suspension unloaded on me and sent me the other way with the wheels turned. (duh)

SO the shop told me my spindle was bent. I got one from a parts car and replaced it myself. Those bolts would not come out at all! I pounded and pounded with a big sledge until they did. Rolled them on the ground and guess what; they had a bit of a bend to 'em. I used the bolts from the parts car. Something might've happened like this to your car before you got it...