Bolt Removal - Rear Damper Big Bolt

[McDude 33]

The Haynes manual has a lot to answer for. According to them it is a good idea to replace the bolts that hold the rear dampers on so I took their advice.

 

Driver's side, both bolts practically fell out. Whole job done in about 30 mins

 

Passenger side, the little bolt was no bother but the big bolt that goes through the trailing arm will not come out, no matter what i throw at it.

 

I belted all hell out of it and bent it, so I then hacksawed the bent section away. I then belted it some more and got it to shift about 5mm, but I peined the end so had to hacksaw again. I mnaged to lever it but knocking a small wedge in and I now have the sawn end about 5mm sunk into the trailing arm but It just won't go any further. I thought that once it moved it would be home and dry but it seems to be as stubborn as ever.

 

Because it sits out a bit I've taken a 24mm socket to it and it is really tough to spin it and I can't make any progress.

 

Has anyone got any ideas before I throw in the towel and take it to a garage? I'm guessing either an impact wrench or a proper hot gas axe would see it out, but I don't have access to these myself.

 

It's been soaked til I can soak it no more in releasing agent and also shock and release (seems a waste of time to be honest)

[RossD 44]

Get a breaker bar on it and turn it back and forth as much as you can, it *should* help loosen it.

Edited February 3, 2008 by RossD

[ginjaspeed 0]

get some heat on the area aswell may help it ease out.

[jackherer 543]

Get a breaker bar on it and turn it back and forth as much as you can, it *should* help loosen it.

 

The head of this bolt is held captive so thats not possible.

 

If its 5mm out already I would spray some plusgas or similar in the bolt head end then tap it back in, spray more plusgas on the threaded end then tap it out again and repeat until it hopefully loosens.

[RossD 44]

The head of this bolt is held captive so thats not possible.

 

If its 5mm out already I would spray some plusgas or similar in the bolt head end then tap it back in, spray more plusgas on the threaded end then tap it out again and repeat until it hopefully loosens.

 

Yea but in his original post he talks about turning it as its out slightly

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

It'll be rusted into the trailing arm even though it has moved 5mm.

 

I've had this a few times before & ended up cutting the bolt off as close to the trailing arm as I can & then drilling down the centre of the remaining bolt with gradually larger drills until I can get a decent punch (1/4" or bigger) down the middle & hit the stud out.

 

A pain but it works.

 

Graham.

[McDude 33]

I have got the bolt out past the 'captive' stage and have been turning it with a breaker bar. But it just doesn't seem to have any effect. It will turn, but never get any looser.

 

What is Plus Gas? A mate at work was on about this. I've been using 3in1 releasing agent and a can of Wurth Rost Ice which is supposed to thermal shock it into submission.

 

I've left it soaking and won't get a chance to muller it until next weekend.

 

It'll be rusted into the trailing arm even though it has moved 5mm.

 

I've had this a few times before & ended up cutting the bolt off as close to the trailing arm as I can & then drilling down the centre of the remaining bolt with gradually larger drills until I can get a decent punch (1/4" or bigger) down the middle & hit the stud out.

 

A pain but it works.

 

Graham.

I did try with a 10mm bit, but I guess that was too ambitious. Also it seems that the trailing arm is softer than the bolt so I'm worried about damaging the arm.

 

If it hasn't miraculously cured itself, I will try the smaller bits and work up as you suggest.

 

Cheers,

 

McDude

[Leon 24]

I just belted mine with a lump hammer, but it's a lot easier with the beam off the car!

 

Plusgas is very very good penetrating oil/WD40 type styff.

 

Try some heat too!

[welshpug 1,657]

get a bigger hammer!

[Rippthrough 98]

Plus Gas is the Big Daddy of penetrating fluids, haven't had a bolt I couldn't shift since using it!

 

BFOLH.

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

Plusgas is fine as a release agent, but for preference I use diesel just brushed on and left to soak.My beam torsion bars just tapped off after 2-3 days of that treatment.

regards

Dave

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

Whenever I have trouble with bastard bolts i also find heat works. I bought a small gas blow torch from B&Q and whenever its needed it always does the trick.

 

I bashed some really rusted in Torsion bars out the other day using this method. I also invested in one of these too http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?...p;isSearch=true