chiphum

So the weld nut on the lower trailing arm on my 03 civic came loose when I used my impact wrench to get the stuck bolt off. Anybody else have this issue? I'm cutting the bolt off because I can't get the nut off now that it just spins w/ the bolt and vise grips don't work. I plan to try in just put another regular nut and new on bolt when I get new struts in. Doesn't look like weld nut was weld for structural support only to make it easier for assembly at the factory.

MindBomber

cutting the welded nut off is fine, more than likely the bolt is seized to the metal sleeve inside the trailing arm bushing.

chiphum

You are right. Now to get a recp saw and cut the bushing/bolt .

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

I looked at the thinnest vise grip i could and after swearing a lot i could get them off.

see it here - the nut is unnervingly... smooth round... no hex...
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/4...-take-out.html

chiphum

Damit, I just cut into trailing arm w/ recp saw. Now I have to get a new arm. I'm will never buy a car from any state that gets snow!!!

MindBomber

Naw, this is common on all cars regardless of the climate.
Bolts will always seize to some degree after a few years, this design is just a pain to deal with when they seize, despite numerous manufacturers using it.

chiphum

Got a new arm and put the car back together. Got an alignment and camber is off a little but you can't adjust it on these cars so I figure if it needed to be adjusted Honda would have supplied a method. I'm not a tuner so no big deal. Strut job ~$400. Broke even on this job?