The pinch bolt holding the 2 upper arms of the front suspension are not moving at all.
I have tried soaking in PB Blaster and similar, smacking with hammer, using pneumatic chisel on the end and between the pinch slots.

I need to get the bolt out so I can change the strut.
Alternative: is it possible to get the strut out without removing the pinch bolt?
Can the 2 upper bolts of the 2 upper control arms be removed?

Other suggestions
- how to get the pinch bolt loose?
- how to remove the strut?

 

Between the grooves where the pinch bolt is stuck, instead of using chisel, cut the pinch bolt through those grooves. the two ends will come out. All you have to do then is drill out the remaining piece of bolt from the assembly.

At least that's how I got mine out.

 

well ive been in ur position. quickest, simplest, and cheapest solution. get a torch and heat up that bolt for about 2 minutes or so. it'll pop right out.

 

I agree with Rodney. You can get a butane torch for like 20 bucks at walmart or wherever if you don't have one

 

Doc and Rodney are correct as well but if your pinch bolt is/was like mine it won't move. There are many different avenues you can take is he main point I believe we are trying to make.

 

there's not enough clearance to take the two upper bolts out and the strut can't be removed until the pinch bolt is out, unless you disconnect it from the drive shaft.. track rod etc etc and F* that.

sounds like its time to get messy with the drilling and cutting and heating. good luck

if you're having trouble getting a good angle you could cut through the arms and disconnect the rest of the strut so you can move the, er, rest of that lump around.

 

I think when mine got stuck I shoved a punch in the hole and beat the **** out of it, had to re-thread the bolt though

 

I don't know why people bother with the pinch bolt to remove the front spring/strut. It's completely unnecessary. Unbolt the bottom of the strut, remove the two, or three, nuts in the engine bay and slide the assembly out. Done.

 

Its still gonna be held onto the upper control arm right? I'm drunk

 

yea, the pinch bolt secures the two upper control arms to the hub carrier. the other end of the control arms are bolted to the strut and you can't extract said inboard bolts without taking the strut out. to get the strut out you need the control arms disconnected from the hub carrier to allow the movement.

surely its a catch 22 if the pinch bolt is still in place?

and either way, if its the control arms you're replacing, you need the pinch bolt out at some point.