When lowering a vehicle, every bushing on every arm should be loosened. That will align each one and prevent bushings from twisting under new height

 

Did you clock the rear lower control arm front bushings? The ones that are separated in two halves precisely to prevent them from tearing like the rest of the bushings that are one solid piece?

 

Is that the compliance bushing? I have never loosened it. But every other bolt is loosened. Move the hub to ride height and then tighten every thing.

 

No, the compliance bushing is the front lower control arm rear bushing.



I'm talking about the bushing on the right side of this pic.

There's actually two bushings on there, and is probably the least likely bushing to bind or tear. It's also a complete pain in the ass to remove. I'll take cutting out siezed compliance bushings over removing that split bushing any day, you have to use an air chisel to get out one half and then you can press out the other half.

 

Thanks for the help everyone but unfortunately I've run into a giant snag. So I got the drivers side front out no problem but the passenger side front strut slid down and is now stuck on the Lower control arm. I've removed the following bolts: ABS line, Brake line, The 2 upper control arm bolts, 1 Lower control arm bolt and the 2 top bolts. I've also removed the stabilizer link and yes the car was jacked up on both sides. So far I've only tried having a heavy person stand on the upper arm hoping that it would lower it enough to get the strut out but that didn't work.

If anyone has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated because at this point I might either just cut the shock or have it towed to someone who knows what theyre doing

 

Have you tried unbolting the top hat bolts? The shock is only held at the top hat and the lower control arm bushing. Perhaps use the scissor jack between two pieces of 2x4 wood blocks to push the lower arm down by pressing down on the upper arm/knuckle? It won't damage your inner fender liner.

 

Had this happen before.
You need to get a pry bar to get it out as well as have someone stand on the studs/rotor to push it down

 

Where should the pry bar go? In-between the bottom of the strut and the lower control arm?

 

Yep, like I said you can also use the scissor jack to move the arm once the bolts are loose.

 

That happened on my las shock install. You need to get creative with pry bars. Get in there and pry the control arm down and the shock up.