Stuck cross-member bracket

[ArthurH 7]

Hi, hoping for a bit of advice please.

 

We are having a lot of trouble removing the cross-member bracket from the flexible mounting bush - see photo.  The bolt rotates freely, it would seem the inner steel sleeves of the bush have separated from the rubber and at least one corroded onto the bolt.  We have tried clouting the end of the bolt with a club hammer, pressing it out with a big G clamp, and both, shocking it while it is under compression from the clamp.  Nothing has moved it at all.

 

TiA

[Thijs_Rallye 87 4 Cars]

Try soaking the inside with some good penetrating oil and let that soak for a day or two whilst re-applying the oil regularly. Other things you can try is apply a copious amount of heat to the bolt with a torch and consider the bush lost. When hot apply the clamp as in the pictures whilst applying more penetrating oil. If it starts to move apply more oil and reverse sides with the clamp, rinse repeat.  

 

Worst case it would be sufficient to have the head of the bolt clear it enough enabling you to cut of the head of the bolt, tap it to the other side as far as it goes and cut off that side as well. Tap it back and you should be able to remove the bracket.

[ArthurH 7]

Thanks Thijs for taking the trouble to reply.  The bush is already ruined which is the reason for taking the bracket off.  We have been trying to get PluGas into the bolt/tube corrosion, but the bracket itself is making that difficult, in spite of applying lots, I imagine only a tiny amount has made it to where it needs to be.  We could heat the bolt, but wouldn't that tighten the grip on the steel tube?

 

We could saw off either end of the bolt, but given that we can't currently move it even a fraction with a big hammer, it would just provide a smaller target to hit.

 

The only thing left I can think of, is to saw off both of the ends of the bolt and drill it out from both ends until it is clear of the bracket - but that sounds like an awful job 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2021 by ArthurH

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

52 minutes ago, ArthurH said:

We could saw off either end of the bolt, but given that we can't currently move it even a fraction with a big hammer, it would just provide a smaller target to hit.

 

The only thing left I can think of, is to saw off both of the ends of the bolt and drill it out from both ends until it is clear of the bracket - but that sounds like an awful job 

I've seen this before & the only way I found to get it apart was to use a junior hacksaw & cut the bolt just inside the mount but it was difficult (used a few saw blades) or chop the bolt off close to the outside of the bracket & drill down the centre of the bolt in steps to weaken it enough to punch it out.  

 

You shouldn't need to drill from both ends, I wouldn't drill it right through so you can use a punch down the bolt to drive it out.

 

As you're replacing the bush etc anyway, you could try using heat to get it free first.

 

g.

[ArthurH 7]

Thanks Graham, I now think drilling it out is the only option.  Unfortunately, I still think it will have to be from both ends, given how hard we are hitting it atm, I really don't think a punch will move it at all 

 

 

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

The heat from drilling it will free it as the material gets thinner & then it'll move eventually.

 

Drill it in stages up to around 2mm smaller than the overall bolt diameter & a good punch should see it moving.

 

g

[welshpug 1,657]

I would cut the head and nut off, lever the bracket over the remaining bit sticking out, then grind the lip off the bushes and press it out with a hydraulic press

[ArthurH 7]

It's off at last 

 

I thought I would post this for the benefit of anyone else.  Essentially, I did it as Mei suggested above.  I sliced off both ends of the bolts as close as possible to the bracket faces.  nevertheless, levering the edge of the bracket over the stub over the bolt wasn't easy, but I eventually did it by using the simple ball joint splitter as shown in the picture.

 

As an aside, many have suggested burning the rubber of the bushes away, but I found a 1" diameter hole saw sliced out the rubber in a matter of seconds