bigmike

I need some help.. I've successfully installed my front coilovers no problem. but im having problems with the back. The bolt that i have circled in the pictures has broke off:


I borrowed this pic from a site, and i believe this shows the front end, but its the same bolt in the rear that i'm having trouble with.

the same thing happend on both sides of the rear?!?! .. I'm wondering if it's just massive rust keeping it on, or if it was intensionally welded on? I also cannot get the bolt loose that connects the strut to the lower bar. So its like its a permenant bolt , it just won't budge. Both nuts on either end of the bolt have broken off!

I dunno what to do now? should i drill out the piece and buy a new bolt? does it actually come out?

desperatly need help thanx!

btw... the front end looks sweeeeeeet!
pics as soon i can get 'em.


[Modified by bigmike, 8:40 AM 2/25/2002]


[Modified by bigmike, 8:46 AM 2/25/2002]

primoEF

chop the bolt from the inside of the shock, then as long as you can take out the shock and you can work from there, you can either punch out the bushing or the bolt itself, you will have to buy a new bolt of course, remember use antizee when put the new one it

bigmike

It is a bolt though , and it is meant to come out right?

CheezeFrog

I doubt that it's welded on since the shock is meant to pivot on the LCA as the suspension goes through its travel. If it was welded, your suspension would remain in a fixed position and only move as far as the durometer of the bushings would allow it.

robinson

Yes it comes off and it's supposed to pivot. Also the pic is of the <U>rear</U> suspension. I just sprayed the bolts with WD40 and used a breaker bar and it came off for me. <U></U>

cinq

Yes...some cars just get so rusty that...they will break off. I had that problem. I got new arms. You have to saw the bolts..if you want to reuse them.

fatoldman7

I've had the same problem. Get out the drill and be prepaired to **** away some time, It's very common for the lower control arm bolts to sieze up in the bushings.

Phil B

to the best of my knowledge, rear LCA bolts almost always break when you try to remove them. you have to be real gentle and even then they usually break.

HENRY

same thing happened to me as well. i was finally able to take the bolts off (without breaking them) by taking them to my friend who had air tools and an impact gun. bolt got loose in no time. myabe you can go to a mechanic and give him a few bucks to loosen the bolt for you. good luck

hmonglonertim

Get those little blow torch from walmart/kmart and heat the circled bolt for about 30 seconds. It should come right out. Be careful with the brake lines and use googles.

-Darren-

something happened on my friends civic all he did was drilled it out in the middle.

Hayasa15

It happened to me on both my civics. Cut the nut off and punch it out. Next time heat it up and remove it.

infinkc

if all else fails, just get a socket and twist off the weled nut on the otherside. Ive done a few before its not that hard, and alot easier than drilling out the bolt. then just find a bolt with a nut to replace it.

VtecDeMoN

I've never had that problem. Easy to fix though, just totally remove the rear LCA's and punch the broken pieces out, should take like 5mins tops to fix.

Brian

bigmike

well i got off both LCA's and tried punching out the bolt...with no success.

I took it to the shop and they said that they are gonna have to replace the bushings, new LCA's ... blah blah blah and they said itll be around 300+ bucks.

Any other suggestions to get the bolt out?