i m trying to remove the front driver side shock/spring and cant get the upper control arm bolt off to get the struts out. it moved about an inch and won't go any more.

 

It won't move as in it's stuck in place? It's gotta come out if it's moved that much, couldn't be seized.

 

ok, i put an impact to it and when the bolt turns it seems like its bent. the arm moves when the bolt turns. this is the driver side i haven't even started the other 3 struts. i even put an air hammer to push it out and it wouldn't budge. oh well i guesss i 'll just keep trying. any help would be appreciated though thanks...

 

I have replaced my front spring/shock without removing the upper control arms; you have to snake it around the half-connected lower control arm. The lower control arm will still be connected to the spindle with the ball joint, but will be removed from the bushing side, sway bar link. I forget if the brake needs to be removed or not.
Good luck.

 

the bolt is on the bushing side of the upper control arm. the bolt is about 10"s long. i changed the springs on the onther three in no time. the bolt was bent, from what i don't know maybe a previous accident. i finally got the bolt off with a larger hammer and about an extra hour of my time. thanks

 

if you need a new bolt - i got some laying around (used of course ) but they are not bent

 

Those bolts are a real bi*ch! When I dropped my car I found out how hard it was taking those off of the front control arms. What I did was just placed a jack underneath the brake rotor you are working from..if you have a long crow bar handy you should use it for this. But have someone kinda jack up the brake rotor up and down repeatedly while you pry out the bolt. By doing this you are budging it loose. Once you get it out to where you can see some threading on it you just simply grab a socket wrench and started unbolting it out. To put it back in I used the same process. However you do realize you will need an alignment after you are done. Anyway good luck and let us know how it goes. If there is a simpler way I'd like to hear it for just in case I have to do this again.

 

Ohh nevermind

 

thanks guys, i did get the bolt off by just hammering away for a while the problem was i didn't have to much room to swing the hammer but it did come off. and thanks for the offer on the bolt but i did order one from a lexus dealer for 9 dollars.

 

oh and when i did the pass side front i just pulled the bolt out with my hands.