Stuck bolt. How to remove ?

[V8NRG]

I have bolt i cant get out. It's the bottom shock mounting bolt for the front N/S which attaches the shock to the bottom wishbone.
It wont push/ pull /twist or turn out. I can't get any leverage on it to push / hit it out because of the position in relation to the wishbone.

Any ideas ?

This is what it looked like


I then cut the threded end down to try and get some space to push / hit the end but it still wont budge !







Before anyone asks, yes i have tried shouting and swearing at it but it didn't seem to help.

Edited by V8NRG on Tuesday 7th December 23:06

[roseytvr]

Have you tried getting a flat under the bolt head and levering it out

[Marty V8]

Looks like the bolt has rusted to the bracket on the arm to me. Try clamping the arm in a bench vice and applying heat to the bracket and bolt stub end. Careful where you clamp it - dont crush the arm. Whilst its hot try to turn the bolt head with a spanner.

Has the bolt rusted to the shock absorber body? Can you work the shock absorber body back and forth whilst injecting penetrating oil between it and the bolt. This might help to reduce the turning force required to shift it.

Good luck.

[phillpot]

I imagine the bolt is siezed in the shocker bush, are you using a good penetrating oil (not WD40)or there are sprays available that freeze the components, the shrinking cracks the rust bond ?

Maybe last resort but how about cut head off bolt then bend the two brackets outwards enough to let the shocker come out complete with remains of bolt ?
Should be able to repair/straighten wishbone afterwards ?

I presume you want to re-use the shocker so destroying that is not an option ?

[spend]

Don't you need to use a solvent to flush the waxoyl away before you can get any penetrating oil in?

If you're feeling fit just keep turning the head (I'd use an air ratchet - but I don't think one fits in there) as you put a little pressure on the bolt end and occasionally wiggling / levering the damper body to align the bush if its twisted.

[taylormj4]

Bolts can lock up like this if tehy are loaded. Is the shock abosorber pressing down or pulling up on the wishbone, presume you aren't jacked up under the wishbone ?
You could try moving the wishbone up and down with a jack to change the loading on the bolt, if you get it right (probably just raise the wishbone very slightly) you may be able to turn and remove the bolt.
Just an idea.
Matt

[rev-erend]

Your just not hitting it hard enough..

[ralphy12345]

I think patience (not something I'm overly gifted with but am learning since becoming a Chim owner!) coupled with penetrating fluid (Plus Gas is my favourite) and repeated attempts at giving the bolt a slight turn is your best approach.

Good luck.

R

[MKnight702]

If it's anything like suspension bolts I have had in the past, the only way to remove it will be saw through between the shock and the mounting bracket. There is often a metal sleeve inside the rubber bush and the bolt will have welded itself in with ancient rust and grease forming a bond stronger than any known substance. Due to the fact that this sleeve is larger than the bolt hole it will never come apart.

Brute force and ignorance are your best bet.

Oh and if you are going to replace the shock an angle grinder will be your best friend the H(igh) A(cceleration) M(etal) M(ass) E(quipment) R(ealigner) just won't do the job in this instance.

Old engineering proverb #1 - If it sticks, force it. If it breaks, replace it.

[crackedfinger]

Angle grinder was the only way of getting mine off, even after splitting the nut off, the bolt just would not budge. Head did not help either. Lucky for me I was replacing the shocks anyway.

When removed from the wishbone, it was clear that it was stuck for good.

[BliarOut]

You can get an angled pry bar in there and apply force from the threaded end while you're turning the head of the bolt. Not easy, but doable.

[More Steam]

BliarOut said:

You can get an angled pry bar in there and apply force from the threaded end while you're turning the head of the bolt. Not easy, but doable.

Wot he said^^

roseytvr said:

Have you tried getting a flat under the bolt head and levering it out

And then him^^

Good luck

[magpie215]

large socket over the bolthead G clamp on socket and tail of bolt and wind....press out.

[phillpot]

magpie215 said:

large socket over the bolthead G clamp on socket and tail of bolt and wind....press out.

Think the whole problem is that there isn't room for tricks like that because its in the "V" of the wishbone ? If there was room for clamps and so on there'd be room to give it a good whack

Edited by phillpot on Friday 10th December 18:56

[Wildfire]

BliarOut said:

You can get an angled pry bar in there and apply force from the threaded end while you're turning the head of the bolt. Not easy, but doable.

As above.

i had this problem. Luckily it was on a top bolt, but it took me the best part of 5 hours to get it out. Still, it came out though. Lots of penetrating oil. As said not WD40.

[magpie215]

can you drill a small hole opposite the tail of the bolt then drift it out and have the hole welded?

[Andy Pandie]

This one,

ralphy12345 said:

I think patience (not something I'm overly gifted with but am learning since becoming a Chim owner!) coupled with penetrating fluid (Plus Gas is my favourite) and repeated attempts at giving the bolt a slight turn is your best approach.

Good luck.

R

Then below, if the above doesn't work,

MKnight702 said:

If it's anything like suspension bolts I have had in the past, the only way to remove it will be saw through between the shock and the mounting bracket. There is often a metal sleeve inside the rubber bush and the bolt will have welded itself in with ancient rust and grease forming a bond stronger than any known substance. Due to the fact that this sleeve is larger than the bolt hole it will never come apart.

Brute force and ignorance are your best bet.

Oh and if you are going to replace the shock an angle grinder will be your best friend the H(igh) A(cceleration) M(etal) M(ass) E(quipment) R(ealigner) just won't do the job in this instance.

Old engineering proverb #1 - If it sticks, force it. If it breaks, replace it.

[Chimpafrolic]

In my experience to tackle a stubborn bolt like this your best bet is heat.

If you have access to an oxy acetylene torch all your problems will be over.

If you don't its well worth finding a friendly local mechanic who has bottles and bunging him a drink.

Get the bolt cherry red and then throw a mug of cold water on it.

Problem over.

[Wacky Racer]

Chimpafrolic said:

In my experience to tackle a stubborn bolt like this your best bet is heat.

If you have access to an oxy acetylene torch all your problems will be over.

If you don't its well worth finding a friendly local mechanic who has bottles and bunging him a drink.

Get the bolt cherry red and then throw a mug of cold water on it.

Problem over.

This^

[V8NRG]

I managed to hacksaw through the two bolts that were stuck and holding the shocks to the bottom wishbone. It took nearly an hour to do both as it was very difficult to get any access to the bolt. In the end i had to throw away the hacksaw and just use the blade.

The bolt that was stuck holding the bottom ball joint on was heated to cherry red with a blow torch then dumped in the snow. The sudden cooling must have loosened the seal as it then came out with a couple of taps with a hammer.

The top ball joint that was stuck on the hub.......is still there !
I've tried heating and cooling it, hitting it, using a ball joint braker and it still wont budge.
I'll have another go at this tomorrow.