oh ............THOSE.
yes, I had a real problem with some of those.....
on a van             ( an  83.......same animal , at least in the
suspension )   that had lived in the NE, had worse corrosion on the left
side ( middle of the road ) than in the right side.......on the left side
those bolts and those parts were completely fused together.

I think I broke off a bolt in the process at first too.

I absolutely could not get them out.....no amount of heating, hammering,
jacking, ......... or anything......spent hours on it.
Those bolts just  would not come out, the arm and ball joint part were
firmly fused together
I had another arm and ball joint off a better van, and put that one on, and
aligned things afterwards.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "neil N" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 6:19 PM
Subject: Stuck Strut Bar Bolts

> Hi all.
>
> This is for an '81 Westy.
>
> A nut/bolt end snapped off on passenger side. On driver side, one bolt
> turned slightly, but the threads didn't. I think it's a hair away from
> snapping. <rolls eyes> These fasteners are obviously rusted to the
> lower BJ adaptors.
>
> PIC:
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/RadiusArmBolts.jpg/RadiusArmBolts-full;init:.jpg
>
> I pre-applied penetrating oil, but aside from heat, vibration, are
> there any tricks to removing these bolts? Or am I looking at removing
> the lower control arm and drilling etc.?
>
> Anyone else who's snapped these, managed to drift out the remaining
> piece(s) of bolt(s)?
>
> Please and thanks!
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta "Jaco
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/