Need some advice about a triple-clunk noise.

[Dustin]

Car: 2003 Lexus IS300 5MT 175K

I’ve been working on my car today for about 10 hours. I’ve been working on this car for what is becoming “phases”. My goal was to replace both front lower ball joints, lower control arms, endlinks, and the inner and outer tie rods. I’ve got one side completed, the other side though is a nightmare…for me at least. I was going to try to remove the LCA bolt and it has undoubtedly fused to the bushing. I ended up breaking the nut off the one end and had to use a castle nut as a emergency. Here are some pictures of it.

[url=https://postimg.org/image/tu1yft8tv/]

[url=https://postimg.org/image/thak9my9v/]

[url=https://postimg.org/image/z5gv0jac3/]

I guess my question is would it be possible with dremel accessories to get that bolt out of there? If there was an accessory that turned the cutoff wheel vertical as opposed to horizontal I just might be able to get it out.

I went for a test drive a couple minutes ago and I noticed that I have a triple-clunk at a certain point the wheel turns on the side that is “complete”. Guess I’ll be under there again tomorrow morning…I’m exhausted right now so sorry if none of this is making much sense.

Topic

[Richard Kirshy]

Seized bolts in bushings is a common issue.
You have a few choices..
Using a saw cut the control arm bolt and remove the control arm.
Then see if a shop can either press the remaining bolt out of the bushing or press in a new bushing.

The other method:
First 20 – 30 minutes should give you the idea:

As to your clunking..
You’ll need to try to replicate the condition while the jack is jacked up and supported correctly.
If it occurs on bumps.. fit a long pipe under the tire and lift to see if you can repeat the clunk.
If it occurs during steering, with the car up and the steering unlocked, move the wheel left to right.

[Author]

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