Can't remove strut rod bolt from knuckle

[awmccready]

97 camry LE 2.2L.

I have the right rear of the car on a floor jack.

I removed the nut from the bolt holding the strut rod to the rear axle carrier (knuckle), but I can't get the bolt out. I used PBS Blaster, wire brush, hammer, and a very long extension on a breaker bar on the bolt head. The bolt won't turn, nor will it slide out of the bushing on the knuckle.

I jacked up the strut rod end at the knuckle, in case the rod was pressing on the bolt. Conversely, I also jacked up the knuckle at the bushing. The bolt is still unbelievably frozen.

I'm considering loosening the other end of the strut rod and just removing it with the knuckle, but that could result in the same situation at that other end of the strut rod. Access is also difficult.

Am I going to have to somehow hacksaw the bolt off at both ends? What kind of a hacksaw blade would cut it?

Should I just pound harder on the end of the bolt where I removed the nut?

Why won't the bolt turn, now that the nut is removed?

Any suggestions will be appreciated, because once again, I am stuck.

Thanks.

[Skiermang]

Are you referring to one of the two bolts holding the bottom of the strut to the knuckle? If so, you should be able to push it out from the threaded side. Try fitting in a proper hammer in there or use the handle end of a 1/2" drive ratchet or something. Should pop right out without fuss. Make sure you don't have any pressure on it when trying to remove it: have the jack positioned to catch the assembly when you remove both strut-to-knuckle bolts.

I just did the rear struts in an '01 Camry yesterday, so it's still fresh in my head.

[awmccready]

Originally Posted by Skiermang

Are you referring to one of the two bolts holding the bottom of the strut to the knuckle? If so, you should be able to push it out from the threaded side. Try fitting in a proper hammer in there or use the handle end of a 1/2" drive ratchet or something. Should pop right out without fuss. Make sure you don't have any pressure on it when trying to remove it: have the jack positioned to catch the assembly when you remove both strut-to-knuckle bolts.

I just did the rear struts in an '01 Camry yesterday, so it's still fresh in my head.

Unfortunately, I already loosened the two strut nuts without difficulty, but my manual says to remove the strut rod before actually removing the two strut bolts.

I am stuck on the bolt that holds the strut rod to the knuckle. That bushing is on the bottom of the knuckle.

Thanks anyhow. I'll keep your advice in mind, when I remove the two already loosened strut to knuckle bolts.

[awmccready]

Even using a chisel, I can't separate the bolt head from the strut rod. Somehow, the head has become one with the strut rod. It was either welded or glued or the rust has welded it, which seems impossible. The bushing moves freely around the bolt and the strut rod moves freely around the nut end of the bolt.

SO, I REMOVED THE BOLT & NUT FROM THE OTHER END OF THE STRUT ROD, which was no easy feat. I needed a long extension for my breaker rod and it's socket to do it. Of course I now have to replace the strut rod, because I can't separate if from the knuckle that I already have to replace. But that's the end of this particular problem.

Let us hope that the already loosened bolts holding the strut and the knuckle together will come out. I need to replace the bolt and nut holding it to the knuckle. I may also replace the other bolt and nut as well as they may be a little too rusted to reuse.

Winter road salt caused these problems, but I think Toyota could also improve their design to combat these problems, just like similar problems with the bearing on the passenger side transaxle in the front. Stainless steel bolts & nuts may help along with some shielding from the road salt.

[awmccready]

It looks like the bolt head stuck to the strut rod at the knuckle may have been caused by Firestone's rear end alignment. The same with the plastic speed sensor that was glued to the knuckle. I can only speculate why they may have done those things, but they were the only people to work on those items. The only other actors involved were at the Toyota factory.

[awmccready]

What my Haynes manual refers to as a "strut rod", Beck/Arnley refers to as a suspension "trailing arm", Part # 1016226 (shown in the included picture).

[Skiermang]

That didn't need to come off on the '01 Camry I worked on. The hub dropped enough to pull the strut and spring assembly down and out.

[awmccready]

Originally Posted by Skiermang

That didn't need to come off on the '01 Camry I worked on. The hub dropped enough to pull the strut and spring assembly down and out.

Yes, that makes your situation different from mine.

I'm not replacing the strut and spring assembly. I did that several years ago and didn't have to remove the carrier axle/knuckle either.

My original purpose was to replace the hub & bearing assembly, which has led me to having to replace the carrier axle/knuckle and now the trailing arm/strut rod and related bolts as well as the speed sensor.

Thanks.

[Skiermang]

Ah, gotcha.

A machine shop should be able to pop that bolt out from the knuckle without a problem.

[awmccready]

Originally Posted by Skiermang

Ah, gotcha.

A machine shop should be able to pop that bolt out from the knuckle without a problem.

Thanks.

That might have worked, but I already ordered the knuckle at a good price and it's on its way. I'll keep that in mind though if or when I end up doing the same thing on the left rear.