lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!!
 

i cant get the nut off the bolt that goes through the lca and lower strut on the rear suspension of my 97 hx. i need to replace the upper mounts, so this bolt needs to come out. i tried mad pb blaster, a 2 1/2 foot breaker bar, a fuckin 4 foot pipe over the wratchet(i broke 3 extensions with this) and my friends air tools tonight. no luck. i know those bolts have a tendancy to sieze in the bushing, but i cant even get the nut off. anyone have any tricks up their sleeve for shit like this?????

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (blackeg)
 

did you use liquid wrench?

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Team 4R)
 

Righty tighty, lefty loosy https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

Try some WD-40 to see if it lossens things up.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (dohcdelsol)
 

WD-40, or PB nut breaker, and then hit the head of the bolt with a hammer, dont be gentle with it, the vibrations allow the liquid to get into the rusted surfaces, that might help

*wait, did you say the nut, the nut is WELDED to the strut itself, turn the bolt, not the nut my friend https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (dohcdelsol)
 

I used some WD-40 and a normal closed wrench. Then I put my foot to work https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif But yeah I hear you on how these bolts can be an ass.

the nut itself is welded on to the strut.... ahha oops saw ^ 2 posts up

Re: (JDM EJ1 95)
 

i was tryin the nut and the bolt- ill let that shit straight up soak in pb blaster tomorrow and try that

Re: (blackeg)
 

Youll propably end up torching the little sob out of there, Ive had to do that on everyone of my friends cars we did suspension work on. If you torch it take the shock and lca off as one piece so its easier to work with. And just cut the bolt out of there, it should only take a few mines depending on your skills with the torch. Dont worry about melting the bushing in there because you should replace that anyhow if your doing new shocks. Youll have to get the sleave out tho with either a press or a good old fashioned Air chissel. I recomend a press tho less chance of messing up the lca, You can get some performance ones for 20 -25 for a pair and most car stores will put them in for you as well for free if you buy the part from them if not for a few bucks, its a snap with a press.... https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: (nocternaldragon)
 

funny mine just broke, but then agian i got a very powerful right hand .

Re: (blackeg)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blackeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i was tryin the nut and the bolt- ill let that shit straight up soak in pb blaster tomorrow and try that</TD></TR></TABLE>

Try putting a propane torch to the nut for expansion. If that doesnt work just cut the head and nut off, then hammer the bolt through.

Re: (pdiggitydogg)
 

when i was changing the suspension in my last civic- the bolt got siezed in there real good, and i wound up taking the head off the bolt completely. man did that suck https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emsad.gif . ill get workin on thiss again in a few hours, so ill see how today treats me

gotta cut it. it is seized to the bushing and no matter how hard you try the bushing will flex a little bit and put very little torque on the bolt.

Re: (mle_92cx)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mle_92cx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">funny mine just broke, but then agian i got a very powerful right hand .</TD></TR></TABLE>

me and my friends did too, luckily i had gsr lca's sitting around, i really wanted those ssr purple anodized ones https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

Airtools is the way to go when working with big bolts and nuts and stuff.. i know i got my two rear lower control arm bolts off by heating and using an impact at the same time.. (came right out)

Re: (hondainspired)
 

Welcome to the world of honda suspensions!!!! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emthdown.gif

Liberal amounts of PB on the bolt the day before and morning before the install and airtools. didnt even have a hiccup!!
https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

yea i started to get the idea... PB IS AMAZING

Re: (hondainspired)
 

ok well i managed to get one side loose. the other side bottom bolt has a 3/8 alan instead of a hex nut. well i applied the pb blaster a few times(to ensure best results). long story short is the alan on the bolt stripped out, so now i gotta bring it somewhere and have them drill the fucker out and ill prolly need a new bushing too. this just pisses me off because i am capable of doin the work and i know what to do, but stupid bullshit gets in the way and now i gotta spend money to have someone else do it https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emsad.gif

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (blackeg)
 

jack the car up, actually use a lift. and jack the control arm under the hub to correct toe geometry. may have seized, its only 60lb-ft torqued i think

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Redline96LX)
 

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/f7559df9.jpg

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (dirtyd463)
 

what kind of wratches are you using? if they're 3/8ths you DEFIENETELY need to go up to 1/2"
I've busted 3/8th ratches to shit,
then tried a 1/2 and problem solved.
they're much much beefier.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Tad)
 

Eat your Wheaties!

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (blackeg)
 

i think the bolt and the metal sleeve on the bushing is rusted...if so you are going to break the head of the bolt...hope the other side isn't ...be prepared to do some drilling and tapping 10x1.25 if im not mistaken. good luck

same thing happened to me, i broke both heads off the bolts, ended up buying new struts and cutting the old ones off. then had to drill the bolt out of the bushing. good luck!

Re: (MikeD718)
 

yeah youre gonna end up breaking the head off the blt and cutting/drilling it out and buying new bolts and bushings, push it out with a hydraulic press out of the lca

it happens to everyone its always the rears, thats just the way it is- good luck https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Spade Racing)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Spade Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Eat your Wheaties!</TD></TR></TABLE>


HAHA!


I ended up tourching the bastard on my friends teg.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Shit_Bam)
 

tad- i am using 3/8 drive wratchets, but it hasnt broken. ive broken extensions and shit with the4 foot pipe over the wratchet handle, but the wratchet itself is still rockin. its craftsman, along with all my other tools, cause i do know that shit does sometime break and the lifetime warranty is golden. all this bullshit just cause i have a bad bushing in the upper strut mount and it bounces around when i hit bumps. i said fuck it and put my strut bar on, and when i upgrade to rear disks in the next few months ill take care of it then.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Shit_Bam)
 

I don't really get this... when I got my trailing arms/suspension off a wrecked integra every single bolt popped out with a 3/8 ratchet with about a 6 inch handle. Took me no time... I can't figure out why so many people have problems.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (blackeg)
 

This happend to me, and I just went to my local mechanic and he pushed it out and put a new bushing in for $50 + Bushing($20 from Friendly Honda) + Bolt($9 from Friendly Honda).

The new bushings are nice... no more squeeks! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (coupedup)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by coupedup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This happend to me, and I just went to my local mechanic and he pushed it out and put a new bushing in for $50 + Bushing($20 from Friendly Honda) + Bolt($9 from Friendly Honda).

The new bushings are nice... no more squeeks! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>damn thats expensive, thats like half the price of a nice little press at harbor freight

BTW 250flt/lb impact wrench + PB = easy to take off https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Sideout)
 

We used an Air impact wrench and still couldn't get the damn thing off... Even if I did get it out I will would have had to pay for the new bushing and bolt anyways..

Also we used liquid wrench and other things like it...believe me it wasn't coming out without a hydraulic press.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (coupedup)
 

so friendly has those bolts in stock? fucking honda of kingston would be like twice that price for the bolts, and i doubt they would be in stock. im gonna do a rear disc conversion sometime soon, so ill be trying it again then

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (blackeg)
 

yup, I got both of mine from them, and they had the bushing and the bolt in stock. Both times I went their they had both in stock.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (coupedup)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by coupedup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yup, I got both of mine from them, and they had the bushing and the bolt in stock. Both times I went their they had both in stock.</TD></TR></TABLE>

sweet. next time i need parts i think ill be paying friendly a visit

air impact wrenches are your friend

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Ajax)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ajax &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I don't really get this... when I got my trailing arms/suspension off a wrecked integra every single bolt popped out with a 3/8 ratchet with about a 6 inch handle. Took me no time... I can't figure out why so many people have problems.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Some of us reside up north and have to deal with snow and salt. These two things combined cuased many headaches when dealing with exposed parts in the car.

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (EX-JAY)
 

yea those bolt seize up easy if not taken out at least 2 times a year. with all the salt and sand (us east coasters) it seizes them up and causes headaches. air tools help, but that might just break it faster than using hand tools. best thing to do is, if it moves on the first turn your in luck. if not, better off going to honda and buying 2 new ones. whne you put the new ones in, use anti-seize, works wonders....

buy a real big bottle of WD-40. let it sit, then turn left on the nut, try aything, happened to me to, kicking? hitting, pulling, anything possible

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (hybridej7)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridej7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> if it moves on the first turn your in luck. if not, better off going to honda and buying 2 new ones. whne you put the new ones in, use anti-seize, works wonders....
</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea man. a few days ago i attempted to put on my lower tie bar on the back. the bolts that hold the inner part of the control arm on are my problem. i had the bolt moving a little(both the head and the end) but the bushing was flexing with it....stuck. fuck. i packed it up and didnt even try to mess with it anymore. you put it just right- if it dont come loose on your first solid turn, then you better go buy another bolt, cause your current one is done for. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emdgust.gif

Re: lower strut bolt- i cant break the bastard loose!!!! (Tad)
 

Metric my friends. <U>METRIC</U> https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif