Well, I finaly broke down and bought a pair of springs. I attempted to install them on saturday but ran into a problem. The bolt at the bottom of the rear passenger side shock wont come off. It will turn about a half turn but not any further. Then when I let off it will turn right back to the original position. You can feel the bolt turning inside the nut but it just goes right back. So I am attempting to install them again on wed. as the guys a the Acura dealership in town are nice enough to get me some shop time. I will post a pic below of the bolt (from bseries.net) If anyone has any Ideas I would love to hear them. Also if anyone knows the size for replacement purposes (just incase I have to break it off)

Thanks,
-C.J.

 

 

It sounds like you have the dreaded "frozen lower control arm bolt" syndrome. The LCA bolt has corroded with the inner metal sleeve of the LCA bushing. The movement you're getting is the rubber bushing twisting. I'd recommend taking your car to a shop to have the bolts removed. Typically the bolt head will snap off and the rest of the bolt will have to be drilled out and the bushings replaced. But fear not, the bushings are only about $20 each and can be purchased from your local dealer along with new bolts. Also, a shop will have to press in the new bushings. All in all the labor should not be too expensive. I'd also recommend that you or the shop you work with coat the bolts with waterproof grease to prevent this from happening again. Who knows, you may want to make another spring change in the future.

-Good luck!

 

Damn I didn't think it was gonna be this much of a hassle I might just end up waiting for my yellows, sway bar, tie bars, strut bars to come and do it all at once! Thanks for the reply Gman96gsr I'll have a talk with the techs tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

If you're going to install shocks, try to install them at the same time you install the springs. The steps involved are virtually the same, so if you do them separately, you'll end up doing the job twice.

BTW, if you're planning on getting Koni yellows, it'll be worth the wait. They're fantastic shocks!

 

I just love seeing people putting this write up to use.

One thing you might try is taking it by a garage with air tools and asking them to hit ti with an air gun. If they can break it loose you can finish the job no problem.

 

Do what Carlex said...

On my 89 Civic, 2 bolts were frozen on the rear LCA. I was able to turn the bolts (the bushings were shot so they would spin), but they wouldn't free up from the LCA bushing. What I did was cut the bolt at both ends to get the LCA out (I was changing LCAs). Then I was able to get the threaded portion out with vice grips and the head end out with vice grips and a socket.

 

why not just drop the shock complete with the LCA, why wory about frozen bolt.... then you can just do the spring and pop the whole thing back...

 

Cause if you drp the LCA with the shock on it you will alson be ripping out the ABS line. There is NO way to take the ABS line off the LCA without taking off the shock. SO there is no way to take the LCA off without taking off the Shock . . . Catch 22

 

Yeppers I had the exact same problem....FYI... you can get a brand spanking new control arm with all new bushing in the factory sealed plastic from A&H Motor for $65 + shipping... (as opposed to $100 from the Acura dealer)

Personally, 6 year old bushings (all three) are all cracked and shot anyways, might as well go for it. Plus I've heard stories of getting the bushing pressed back in and it falling out if not done properly....

 

Ahhhh!!! That's what I should've done! I opted to tackle getting the old bushings out (that was hell) and getting some new ones for $40 from the Acura dealer. If I only knew...$65.

Be prepared to break the bolt heads off and taking off the bushing.

 

This is a recurring story.

Sounds like oiling your LCA bushings should be done when we change our oil.

 

This seems like a good idea! But i was also thinking about polyurethane bushings if Suspention techniques or something alike makes some. I have yet to look into it. Thanks for all the replys!

-C.J.

 

The bushing in the rear of every Honda always freeze up i have seen the bushing in a 99 teg freeze up. Just cut it off and get new ones it is easier.