myownreality

So I'm taking apart my suspension because the lower front left(driver side) control arm is bent and the wheel was rubbing on the inside in my 94 Civic LX

So everything else has come apart and is going back together as expected, but when attempting to remove the inner most front bolt (the one that bolts the front part of the control arm to the sub frame) I can't get it to come off.

The bolt turns, and there is a small access hole in the sub fram, I can feel a nut turning with the bolt on the other side, but it seems that I'm completely unable to get a wrench big enough to go on the nut through the tiny access hole in the sub frame.

My dad thinks that the bolt was probably suppose to be welded into place but for some reason has become loose, but the sub frame on the other side doesn't seem to have an access hole, the hole on that side is too tiny for me to even get my pinky in. Is there some trick I can't find? Any ideas? I'm getting pretty close to just cutting the old bolt off, but that could be a pain in the butt to put back together.

jbpnoman

Your dad's right - that nut was tack welded on from the factory. You probably snapped the tack welds trying to turn it. Don't feel bad, it happens all the time.

The easiest thing to do at this point is go pick up an angle grinder (you can get a good Hitachi 4.5" for $50 from Lowes) and open up that hole so that you can fit a wrench in there.

Emeraldbomber

^ I had to do that with the engine torque mount on the drivers side. They tac weld the nut on sadly. I had to do what Jbpnoman mentioned.

myownreality

you don't think that cutting into the sub frame will be bad for stability?

Gunmetal_B20_Hatch

iTrader: (9)

just make a small hole big enough to slip a wrench into... not your whole fist. It'll be fine.

jbpnoman

You're only talking about removing a couple square inches of material here. It won't affect the structural integrity by anything noticeable.