The Pinch Bolt
 

I bought a Fcp control arm kit for my 2000 1.8TQM and attacked the pinch bolt. I've been spraying with PB. I'm in Jersey, so the winter salt is an issue. I heated the bearing housing some with propane, and began to melt/burn the upper contol arm rubber, then beat the heck out of the nut end with a sledge hammer, trying to push it back through. Before that I had tried to turn the bolt end and was afraid I was going to strip the bolt head. so, I quit. I'm cheap so I didn't buy MAPP gas set up for $45 at Home Depot. So, now, do I try the MAPP gas or just go ahead and try to drill it (and the other side) out over a two day period and make my life a living hell?

Pry the pinch open some, use the gas torch to heat it, then beat the hell out of it. Drilling it sucks. Fire and a 4lb sledge should do it.

Just as an FYI,the Bentley and factory service manuals specifically say not to pry the slots where the upper arms connect, in fact the factory manual says that in bold red letter to make sure you don't miss it.

you can pry it, just don't try to open it like women's legs

I drilled mine but would have tried this technique had I known about it:
PINCH BOLT REMOVAL made easy - pics

Redmond, I also plan to try that next time. Mad cow, I hear you on the recommendation not to pry the pinch section, but for what it's worth, I've never gotten one out without opening it somewhat. Not a lot, but enough to eliminate the bite it puts on the bolt. The key is to open it just enough to straighten the bore through the housing that the bolt goes through.

air hammer. Rips them right out (most of the time) (so you hope) :D

i drilled one out, the other i heated with 2 propane torches. sprayed with penatrating oil, half inch drive impact on the head, and 4 lb sledge on the nut, barely screwed onto end of bolt (so you dont bend bolt) kept doing this over and over, eventually it came out. was def easier then drilling. dont worry about melting uppers boots. doesnt matter.

and i have that fcp kit too. i live right near them. make sure you have weight on ctrl arms before you tighten everything

^^ THIS!

I used an air chisel on mine and it blasted them right out.

Jason

Just to be clear on the air chisel ( I don't have air tools), you are using the air hammer and a pointed attachment to pound the nut end back through, where I'll be trying to pound it back through with a sledge hammer?
Thanks for all the suggestions.