I've encountered a frustrating problem. While removing my front LCAs to swap the bushings, I went to loosen the inner bolt that connects to the subframe. It loosened very easily, and then it just kept spinning. There is a small pencil eraser sized hole on the bottom of the subframe by the bolt, so I looked in with a flashlight and realized that the tack weld on the nut inside the subframe that allows this bolt to thread broke off. As a result, the nut is just spinning with the bolt now.

How do I fix this? The subframe is sealed off and there is no way to get a wrench in there to hold the nut. I'm talking about #'s 9 and 19 in this diagram. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

1. Tried a impact yet? I'm just guessin' that might help?
2. Remove what you have to, to get the bolt out..
3. Hack it of, get a new one and re-tack the nut on?

These are the only things I can think of.. Sorry buddy..

 

An impact would get the bolt off, but when I would need to but the bolt back in, the nut would have flown off inside the subframe somewhere since it's no longer welded.

#3 makes sense, because the only thing I can think of is have the subframe cut, re-weld the nut, and then re-weld the subframe back together. Sounds like so much trouble....

 

Ehhh, just tack here, tack there.. LOL.. Hope that helped..

 

Had the same trouble. Just cut a hole in the subframe using a drill and the bit which cuts holes. It will take a while! Once the hole is cut (mine is about 1") you can wedge a pair of pliars on the bolt to hold it still while you loosen.

You can also tighten it up this way.

It has been on my car like this for about 4 years now.

 

So you believe it is safe to cut a hole on the bottom of the subframe and not re-weld it back together? Because your idea sounds very doable.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by I like my R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So you believe it is safe to cut a hole on the bottom of the subframe and not re-weld it back together? Because your idea sounds very doable. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yes....have done it on my 00 si cause that bolt that is welded in there busted loose...

i still have to tighten mine every other track event...well i check it i should say

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by I like my R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So you believe it is safe to cut a hole on the bottom of the subframe and not re-weld it back together? Because your idea sounds very doable. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes it is safe to do so. I have done this twice with two of my civics I onced owned. I just cut out a square big enough to get a wrench in there and hold the nut. You will be fine with the hole there. Just make sure you throw some anit rust paint on the raw metal after if you live where there is lots of corrision on cars from road salt and stuff.

 

I've had that happen to my 95 Si and my current ITR. You can stick a prybar or flat head into the hold and wedge it against the flat of the nut. Then you can tighten/loosen the bolt as needed. I've actually had the nut totally fall off and float in the subframe. I had to flick it around a bit but I was able to get it back into the right spot and fastened down.

 

I'm in the same situation right now, instead of just cutting a hole in the subframe I was gong to cut two lines from the peek hole on the bottom of the sf, and fold out the piece of subframe like a slice of pizza, then re weld the nut, then fold back the piece of subframe and weld that too. But cutting the hole seems a little easier and faster, and a less kick in the *****

 

The hole saw is about the only way.
If you are in the Rust Belt, you will need a hoist, torch, impact tools as this will be a very nasty project.
If still driveable, limp it to a Honda shop if you are not able to perform this work yourself.
A Bitch of a Job, is an understatement.

 

can confirm, my ITR has a hole in the driver-side subframe also due to the nut breaking off.

 

Happened on my ITR. I ended up finding a new subframe on eBay and swapped it out. Thought about cutting the hole and having someone tack weld but decided against it