I am trying to remove the "lower control arm bolt at uni-body" as per Neuspeed instructions. The problem is I can't get the bolt out.

I am able to begin to unthread the bolt, but then it stops after an inch or so...someone told me to take a long screwdriver and poke the bolt through with using a hammer on the screwdriver, but that didn't seem to be working...

Anyway, any tips on how to get this bolt out?

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[Modified by fubar, 3:49 AM 7/19/2002]

 

Wow, they don't look too bad ether! My bolts got seized to the inside of the bushings sleeve. I had to cut them off with a little cutting wheel. Very bad hard job to do by yourself with a jack and a small compressor

EDIT: ****, didn't answer question , use an impact.


[Modified by legendboy, 8:55 PM 7/18/2002]

 

Is that the only way to get these bolts out??? I hope not...I don't have access to an impact gun...

 

dman impoact is probably the only way to go...and som PB blaster(lubricant)

 

I got those out but it took a freakin long time.. like 30 minutes or sumthing and when I was done it was as if I lifted at the gym all day.. my arm felt like rubber.. anyway if you can manage to get it out a little.. then slip a wrench over the part that came out.. and try to push/guide it out while you use your ratchet to unscrew.. Calavera knows what i'm talkin about w/ the vise grip and ratchet/socket.. lolz..

I was gonna say use a mallot and screwdriver or bolt.. but I guess you already tried that..

 

Here's a tip that my mechanic and I used to take it off with. Took us only about 7 minutes.. But that's with the help of an impact gun also.. Anyways try this. Put a jack-stand underneath the arm or the bushing and bolt underneath the shock to level it. That helped us out alot.. Let us know how it goes..

--Oh, and did you try putting a rachet and socket over the nut to hold it in place and then try turning the bolt??..--

 

if you got it started, you dont need an impact. why isnt it coming out? i dont understand... dont you put a wrench on one side, then a socket wrench on the other? what is keeping it from coming out?

 

Stick a pin punch and punch it out with a hammer.

 

I hope you don't actually have the wheel still on. That alone will make a pretty big difference. You said you can get it to loosen from the nut, but not off the frame right? If that is the case then I think your problem may be that there's just too much force being exerted on the bolt (and included joint) by the rest of the suspension. The spring/shock are pressing the LCA downward, while the remaining parts of the susp. are somewhat pushing the LCA upwards slightly. This puts a significant amount of tortional force on that single bolt. Try first taking off the wheel and if that alone doesn't help, place a jack underneath the LCA to support it so as to take away some of the stress. A good spot would be the very outermost area (under the brake or shock mount). I think that if the bolt is indeed free this may solve your problem. I would still suggest pushing it out with a punch (or screwdriver) and a hammer.

I hope this helps.

 

Thanks, I may try that.

I had it up on ramps, so i don't know if that would apply in this case???

Well, the nut is soldered to the subframe...so that's not an issue. I can get the bolt turned and it was out a little over an inch or so, but then turning it no longer worked, as the bolt didn't come out any further. I think only the end of the bolt is threaded.

Once I decided I wasn't going to be able to get the bolt out lastnight, I was like ok, I'll just put it back in and work on it again when I have more time. BUT even that was a bitch...I had to hit in with a hammer until the threads caught.

What exactly does a pin punch look like?

 

yeah...only like the last inch or so of them is threaded. when i put on my gsr LCA's i had to use a hammer and punch form the back side when it wouldnt turn anymore. a couple of hits and it flew across the garage....very effective. you may want to try and take soem of the weight off it though. having it up on ramps with the tire still on will put a lot of pressure on that bolt. try jacking up the rear end and putting it up on jackstands. this will unload the pressure from the bolt and you should be able to punch it out. good luck.

CHRIS

 

that's my boy, chris and i did both of our suspensions. and he's no lying about it flying across the place when he hit it out.
-Scary

 

Definatly take it off the ramps and put it on jackstands! that is your problem: too much pressure on the bolt. If it still doesn't come out use the punch (or just a screwdriver) and a hammer to wack it out like some of the other guys said

 

Yup, wheel has to come off for sure.

 

Get new LCA bolt ready just in case you can't reuse the old one.
As someone said earlier, put a wrench on the part that came out then use the hammer and wack on that wrench.
I got access to over head lift at the time so it was easier to me to swing that hammer.

G'luck.

 

You CANNOT use ramps to do this job. You MUST have a jack and jackstands and take the wheel off.

My method is to take a shop rag, and twist it around the bolt unerneath the head, and then pull on it with that... Oh and I have an impact wrench, so I take these bolts out in like 15 seconds...

 

Ok, I guess I'll have to buy some jack stands...or take it to a shop. I won't be able to work on it til sunday at the earliest, but I'll post my final results whenever that happens!

Thanks for all the advice.

 

holy chit, ramps?! Dude you better be glad you didn't get that bolt out, otherwise your car could have collapsed due to half the suspension no longer being bolted to the frame of the car (if the bolt had come out). ANY and ALL suspension work must be done w/ NO weight on the suspension (car off the ground).

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of suspension work.. You will find the WORST bolts ever to get out there... I am in the process of swapping my hatch suspension for my gsr suspension.. and well.. every bolt seems to break off! YES, lets hear it for honda's stupidly designed bolts.. They made them so easy to get rusted in there.. Good luck man!

 

Mine came out fairly easily, but my car's a 99, so I guess its not too old. Just soak it with some PB Blaster and let sit, then just unbolt that bad boy, an impact gun is very helpful though. Getting it back through can actually be a bit harder because the suspension arm bushing in there must line up completely to allow the bolt to go thru all the way, it will help if you have another jack of some kind to put under the tire or suspension arm to move it up and down a bit to try to re-align it when trying to install the bolt again. Enjoy,

 

yeah get the car off ramps and use jack stands.. w/ that bolt out the side of the suspension you were trying to take out would have come down w/ the car coming down too = (