Problem removing suspension bolt - help!
Discussion
Hi all,
Following on from this thread, I'm currently stripping down and rebuilding the suspension on my Chimaera.
Today I hit a bit of a snag, the bolt that holds the upper rear wishbone and damper to the chassis is refusing to move. I've got the nut off, but I think the inner sleaves of the bushes have rusted onto the bolt. I had a similar problem with the lower one but managed to get it off with a angle grinder, hacksaw and lots of swearing! But this one is a little more awkward.
I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and has any useful tips? I've attached a pic showing the little b*stard in question!
I can just about turn it, but it won't budge even a fraction trying to get it out!
Edited to add: it's in too awkward a position to get a hacksaw to it, and I can't see that angle grinding the ends off will do any good either!
Cheers, Dan
Following on from this thread, I'm currently stripping down and rebuilding the suspension on my Chimaera.
Today I hit a bit of a snag, the bolt that holds the upper rear wishbone and damper to the chassis is refusing to move. I've got the nut off, but I think the inner sleaves of the bushes have rusted onto the bolt. I had a similar problem with the lower one but managed to get it off with a angle grinder, hacksaw and lots of swearing! But this one is a little more awkward.
I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and has any useful tips? I've attached a pic showing the little b*stard in question!
I can just about turn it, but it won't budge even a fraction trying to get it out!
Edited to add: it's in too awkward a position to get a hacksaw to it, and I can't see that angle grinding the ends off will do any good either!
Cheers, Dan
Edited by _Dan_ on Wednesday 16th April 21:14
Never had one of those seize thankfully but you need to cut in between the shock bush and the mount on the left hand side and use the nut to pull the bolt through the shock bush, it won't pull it all the way through but will generally pull it enough to get the last bit with a pry bar, thus enabling the shock to be removed.
I would then get a punch at an angle through the shock mount and try and punch the remaining bit of bolt through the wishbone bush enough to get my pry bar under the bolt head and washer.
I would then get a punch at an angle through the shock mount and try and punch the remaining bit of bolt through the wishbone bush enough to get my pry bar under the bolt head and washer.
Just be careful using anything with a flame in that area!
If you can just about turn it, I'd be inclined to soak it with Plus Gas and try to turn it back & forth. As the Plus Gas penetrates, you should be able to turn it further & further in each direction until eventually it rotates. You may be able to get a large flat bladed screwdriver blade under the bolt head to lever the bolt out a few mm. At that point, I would try to knock it out (possibly using a screwdriver or similar pushing on the underside of the bolt head).
If you can just about turn it, I'd be inclined to soak it with Plus Gas and try to turn it back & forth. As the Plus Gas penetrates, you should be able to turn it further & further in each direction until eventually it rotates. You may be able to get a large flat bladed screwdriver blade under the bolt head to lever the bolt out a few mm. At that point, I would try to knock it out (possibly using a screwdriver or similar pushing on the underside of the bolt head).
Penetrating oil + twisting followed by a hitting with a hammer would be how I would try and get it out.
I would be wary of using heat as you might melt the bush (or something else) by accident.
I dont know these cars very well but sometimes it helps to take the load off the bolt a bit by jacking up the suspension (compres the shock).
I would be wary of using heat as you might melt the bush (or something else) by accident.
I dont know these cars very well but sometimes it helps to take the load off the bolt a bit by jacking up the suspension (compres the shock).
Holst said:
Penetrating oil + twisting followed by a hitting with a hammer would be how I would try and get it out.
I would be wary of using heat as you might melt the bush (or something else) by accident.
I dont know these cars very well but sometimes it helps to take the load off the bolt a bit by jacking up the suspension (compres the shock).
He says he's changing all the Bushes etc so some heat wouldnt go a miss IMHO as it wont matter. I wouldnt of advised that if he was keeping them I would be wary of using heat as you might melt the bush (or something else) by accident.
I dont know these cars very well but sometimes it helps to take the load off the bolt a bit by jacking up the suspension (compres the shock).
BB
Ballistic Banana said:
Holst said:
Penetrating oil + twisting followed by a hitting with a hammer would be how I would try and get it out.
I would be wary of using heat as you might melt the bush (or something else) by accident.
I dont know these cars very well but sometimes it helps to take the load off the bolt a bit by jacking up the suspension (compres the shock).
He says he's changing all the Bushes etc so some heat wouldnt go a miss IMHO as it wont matter. I wouldnt of advised that if he was keeping them I would be wary of using heat as you might melt the bush (or something else) by accident.
I dont know these cars very well but sometimes it helps to take the load off the bolt a bit by jacking up the suspension (compres the shock).
BB
I'll take note of being wary of the heat, but a bit can't hurt, I'll just keep it away from the flammable bits!
Thanks again for the help everyone, I'll let you know how I get on later!
Dan
Well my friend and I had a crack at this again tonight and it's turned into somewhat of a nightmare!
I tried the method whereby I grind the bolt head off and use the nut to pull the bolt body through. I didn't realise exactly how ceased this bloody thing is! It had been doused in plenty of heat via a blowtorch, and also had a good load of dismantling lubricant sprayed on it (not at the same time though!!), my friend and I had to take it in shifts turning the nut using a bar on the end of a ratchet, we managed to pull the bolt through about 3/4 inch, but now it has striped the thread on the bolt!
I am now almost completely out of ideas and ready to give up! One plan is we might be able to get an air saw into a couple of choice places (he already has a big old air compressor!) and try and chop it into a couple of pieces. Also maybe fashion an implement like the above picture.
Anyone got any more ideas?
I tried the method whereby I grind the bolt head off and use the nut to pull the bolt body through. I didn't realise exactly how ceased this bloody thing is! It had been doused in plenty of heat via a blowtorch, and also had a good load of dismantling lubricant sprayed on it (not at the same time though!!), my friend and I had to take it in shifts turning the nut using a bar on the end of a ratchet, we managed to pull the bolt through about 3/4 inch, but now it has striped the thread on the bolt!
I am now almost completely out of ideas and ready to give up! One plan is we might be able to get an air saw into a couple of choice places (he already has a big old air compressor!) and try and chop it into a couple of pieces. Also maybe fashion an implement like the above picture.
Anyone got any more ideas?
When I changed these out I used a (old!) set of mole grips clamping them on the heads @ 90 degrees, then used a rubber hammer on them to drift the bolts out by bashing the crap out of the mole grips. By adding the mole grips there is a lot more room to swing a hammer safely about. The only ones that I had to cut out were the lower fronts as the bolts really are awkward.
V8 Animal said:
Bloody hell what a mare.
All i can suggest as you try and saw the bolt between the shock and wishbone hopefully you can then remove the shock giving you more room to drift whats left of the bolt of the wishbone.
Good Luck
Thats what I did, had the exact same problem on the Chim, nackered the wishbone getting it off, got a new one fron TVR Car Parts with the bushes pre pressed in. Racing green showed me some new style tubular whishbones that look ver substantial if it comes to it.All i can suggest as you try and saw the bolt between the shock and wishbone hopefully you can then remove the shock giving you more room to drift whats left of the bolt of the wishbone.
Good Luck
Get one of these and then shorten the blade.
http://www2.toolspot.co.uk/product/mini-hacksaw-wi...
If you use a sharp blade it won't be as bad as you think. You could even cut the extension piece off if access is that bad. As long as you're patient and let the blade do the work you will be able to cut through the bolt.
http://www2.toolspot.co.uk/product/mini-hacksaw-wi...
If you use a sharp blade it won't be as bad as you think. You could even cut the extension piece off if access is that bad. As long as you're patient and let the blade do the work you will be able to cut through the bolt.
Dan, I'm not sure on what you were doing when trying to use the nut to pull it through, but if you haven't been putting washers in as spacers, after moving it 3/4" you may have reached the end of the thread. If you can get the nut off again try using spacers to get the nut back on a good part of the thread.If you have been doing this then it may well turn into a hacksaw job
Now you have the air hacksaw, I would cut each side of the shock bush unless the thread is usable to pull the bolt through the shock bush and then you could just cut the left hand side.
So far with me its always been a problem with the shock bush, rather than the wishbone bush so I wouldn't worry yet.
Btw, I'm in tomorrow so if you want any moral support, give me a ring at the workshop on 01480 403700 .
So far with me its always been a problem with the shock bush, rather than the wishbone bush so I wouldn't worry yet.
Btw, I'm in tomorrow so if you want any moral support, give me a ring at the workshop on 01480 403700 .
Edited by Ab Shocks on Friday 9th May 21:04
ray_von said:
Dan, I'm not sure on what you were doing when trying to use the nut to pull it through, but if you haven't been putting washers in as spacers, after moving it 3/4" you may have reached the end of the thread. If you can get the nut off again try using spacers to get the nut back on a good part of the thread.If you have been doing this then it may well turn into a hacksaw job
I was indeed using washers, there was a good bit of thread on there, but the force we had to use just to turn the nut was unbelievable! I do think an air saw is the way forward really.Cheers for all the help chaps, I'm sure you'll be hearing more soon!!
if the shock is going off for a refurb you could, if you get totally stuck, grind off the top shock mount tube (the bit that holds the poly bush), then the bush, then the inner, leaving only the shock bolt. then you could weld a bar to the bolt to give mega leverage/surface to hit sideways with a hammer. Then the shock company could weld a new top on to the shock when it is in for service?
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff