Lower Control Arm Bolts

[RPMerf]

97 Suburban K1500 4WD

Had a clunk in the front end so I am replacing the upper control arms, lower control arm bushings, lower ball joints, and tie rods. Everything was going smoothly until I got to the lower bolts. They seem to be rusted into the bushing sleeve. I can barely get them to move with a breaker bar, and my impact and beating on them with a hammer has not been able to get them out so far. I think I am going to have to cut them out.

Does anyone have a source for LCA bolts? Should I just look for grade 8 bolts in the appropriate size?

Thank you

 

[Supercharged111]

They're metric so you'll want 10.9 bolts. Look at AC Delco bushings, they sometimes include hardware.

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

They're gonna be grade 8, and a metric diameter. That's the difficulty.
They're not a GM specific bolt, so check with your local heavy truck repair shop as to where they get their hardware.

 

[Supercharged111]

They're gonna be grade 8, and a metric diameter. That's the difficulty.
They're not a GM specific bolt, so check with your local heavy truck repair shop as to where they get their hardware.

Grade 8 doesn't apply to metric fasteners.

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

Grade 8 doesn't apply to metric fasteners.

Right, they'd be marked 10.9...

O.P. As long as they're not made a of Chinesium, you should be fine

 

[JWOK]

FWIW a 5/8 bolt is about .004 inch smaller than the metric 16mm bolt in there. I know at least some lift kits use standard 5/8 grade 8 bolts and they are easier to find. I wouldn’t normally replace metric with standard, but this is so close and you are not dealing with an interference fit.

 

[454cid]

I would probably order from McMaster-Carr..... metric 10.9. You can probably even find them with the flanged head.

 

[454cid]

You could try the dealer..... sometimes hardware is cheap, sometimes it's expensive.

 

[Supercharged111]

Have you tried a torch?

 

[RPMerf]

Thanks to everyone that replied.

I do have new AC Delco bushings, but I don't believe they came with bolts. I'll double check.

I have a nut and bolt place I've gone to for specialty bolts. They should have whatever I need.

Was trying to look at GM parts sites and diagrams, but I was having a hard time finding the bolts.

Tried a torch a bit, but I can't see the sleeve where it is rusted and I don't want to get parts I'm keeping too hot. I have been soaking it in PB Blaster. Then heat it up with a torch and soak it again. I'm going to take another good shot at it before I start cutting. I have spun 1 of the bolts a full 360° with a 2' breaker bar.