DC354

Hello.
I was trying to do the rear suspension in a 2002 civic LX, and i ran in to a small issue.
I broke the nut that the bolt at the bottom of the strut on the Trailing arm (I believe)
So, i figured instead of welding or any bullshit, i would just replace the entire piece. Upon trying to get it out though, i found that the bolt seemingly for the rear alignment, will not come out!
Days of Penetrating lube, heating with the torch and bashing it with the rubber mallet, and still no progress.. Is this bolt even supposed to come out?
Also, i notice there is a collar around the bolt. I figured it was something to do with aligning it when finished. Anyone know how this works? Should i just man up and keep bashing it?

ezone

Well, THAT looks like you opened a big ol' can of worms, now you can't put the lid back on it!!


--Yes, the welded nut comes detached sometimes, just plan on using a regular nut later.
--Yes, that is the rear toe adjustment mechanism, the bolt is supposed to rotate and move back and forth in its slot with the large offset washers to adjust toe.
--Yes the bolt was supposed to come out, it is probably just seized to the steel sleeve inside the bushing.
--You WILL need a 4 wheel alignment when it's all back together.


---

How to get it apart? Hard to tell you from here. Probably some serious torch action to break the rust bond -- and plan on replacing all the damaged hardware before it's over, and the bushing(s) if you roast the rubber in it.

And you'd probably have to get the other two attachment points apart too (more bushings), to replace any of the bushings in the knuckle.





Mistake.
Grab a REAL hammer, not some tinkertoy rubber mallet. You are gonna destroy the bolt, man up and do it right LOL. Heat up the bolt til it's starting to turn red then whack it.


Last resort might be a sawzall.



PS: Taking a rear strut off: When the bolts are seized (they all seem to be after several years here too) I use a cutoff wheel to cut the bottom loop and split it in half, then get it apart from the strut, then either cut into the steel center sleeve of the remaining bushing or heat with a cutting torch.

It can take a lot of effort-- and maybe some talent with an Oxy-Acetylene torch-- to overcome the effects of rust and corrosion....without causing serious damage to the surrounding components.

If you do manage to get it all apart, I'll urge you to use liberal amounts of anti-seize all over the bolts as you put it back together, hopefully it will help if you have to tear it apart again in the future LOL.

HTH

ezone

Don't forget to use the correct cuss words!
You can't go easy. You may even have to take the good Lord's name in vain.

lowlife9

yup you have to assume before hand that these parts are seized and then plan accordingly to remove them like soak them in PB for days or torch them especially if you live in a rust prone environment.