I'm really getting sick of working on old cars, all the bolts go to ****. I was about to install my suspension, when my LCA bolt in the rear snapped. The one that is 17mm bolt with the 19mm nut. Was I supposed to turn the 19mm or 17mm? I'm probably gonna have to drill this out now

 

I am almost positive when I say this but I believe that the 19mm NUT is welded on?? As for the broken bolt can you get ahold of it with a vice grips?? I helped someone get all their broken bolts out and all I used was a torch and a vice grips took me awhile but I get them all out for him. Oh and you will want to see whatever you can do to NOT have to drill them. They are hardened bolts and you will go through a lot of drill bits. My buddy went through a whole **** load of them and still didnt get through them thats why I got them out with the vice grips.

 

I spun the 17mm nut and it snapped at the head with a tiny bit of the shaft. The remainder of the shaft is too far in to grab with a vice grip

 

Is there another way I could replace the springs? I was doing just the springs. Can I drop the whole assembly another way?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boost Creep &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there another way I could replace the springs? I was doing just the springs. Can I drop the whole assembly another way?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well you could take off the whole LCA but you might run into just as many problems with those bolts as well but if you did take off the whole LCA now that the bolt is broke atleast it will be easier for you to work on it.

*EDIT* I would now start lubing up the bolts real good with PbBlaster or WD40 and let them sit and also use heat as well.

 

Same thing happened to me.

To get the LCA bolts off I highly suggest people spray them all over with PB Blaster, then get a MAPP Gas torch and heat it up until it is red hot. If you smell the bushing burning thats fine, its going to burn the stuck **** off the bolt so it will be free. Than next to get it off I suggest you use an Impact Wrench. If you don't have one one of those Sliding Wrenches would probably be best since you can get even torque on each side of the bolt. Using a breaker bar is what usually snaps the bolts because of high torque only on one side of the bolt.

Also never ever use 12pt sockets for anything except pressure plate bolts that need them.

 

torch the POS
i lost mine when i swapped the rear suspension too

 

I sugest to everyone that has to drill any bolts out of cars. Get a set of craftsman cobalt drill bits. Cobalt is one of the hardest drill bits made today. They have no problems drilling out hardend bolts. Just watch you don't turn the drill bit sideways when it is deep in a hole or you will snap it.

 

or just use a reciprocating saw and cut them out. thats how i did mine. all 4 of my LCA's had seized bolts in them. just make sure when you put them back on to use anti-seize