read/review my situation and my solution PLEASE

[mattj3636]

okay, well i dont know where to post this since its not a mazda vehicle, but im posting it on the forums because there seem to be a lot of more mechanically inclined people on these forums than on the integra forums.
and since im still active on here anyways..

so onto my situation.

went to install my new rear shocks, so i unbolted old ones from the lower control arm, and then as i was attempting to unbolt the control arm from the hug assembly, the bolt head decides to snap off, even after a good PB soak and only about 40-50 lbs of force on it...

so im stuck with just the threaded side still attached and no way to get it out since its a welded nut from factory, and honestly, i dont want to drive the car since only one side of the bracket is bolted in...

here are pictures.
(sorry for the crappy phone pics)

my thought up solution, would be to use a grinder/sawzall to cut off the factory welded nut/threaded part of the bolt and have the control arm drop down, and then punch out the rest of the screw with a screwdriver/hammer combo....

then just run to home depot or something and get a grade8 bolt and locking nut and some loctite and redo it like that.

would that be the most desirable solution?

any input would be helpful!!!

mind you that im VERY VERY tight on money, so having a mechanic shop do there whole little routine is last option.

thanks guys

 

[NCZ13]

It would probably be easier to break the spot welds on the nut than it would be to cut it off with precision.

 

[mattj3636]

okay good idea, but there is a possibly that its either tig welded or just a straight part of the bracket itself, like not even welded on, theres too much rust protection s*** on there to tell for sure, but looking at the other side, it doesnt look to be just spot welded

 

[NCZ13]

if thats the case youll have better luck using a dremel and several grinding disks to cut it off. a sawzall is a littler extreme lol.

 

[mattj3636]

haha alright yeah, i wanan get my hands on an electric grinding wheel with a small cutting blade, that would be ideal i think

 

[MikeHTally]

Is it possible to drill out the bolt enough to crush/remove what's left?

 

[mattj3636]

define crush

 

[Super Unique]

If you had applied heat before wrenching, it would have come right off. Now that it is broken, use an air compressor with a die cutter w/ 2 inch disc mounted to cut the remaining bolt off, drop the arm down, pop leftovers out with a hammer and drift. Reinstall new parts and move on.

If you don't have an air compressor, and some rudimentary air tools such as air hammer and cut off wheel, get them now. Never attempt suspension work without proper tools.

 

[mattj3636]

thanks man, i appreciate it, i have a compressor, no air dremel tho

 

[MikeHTally]

define crush

Drill the bolt so it's walls are so thin, you can crush the resulting tube. Far-fetched, I know.

 

[m5rMS3]

I wouldn't count on being able to get the bolt out of the control arm once you cut the nut off. Those bolts are notorious for getting stuck in there. When I replaced the suspension on my old del sol I sprayed it with PB blast three days in a row before heating up the control arm and trying to take off the bolt. The bolt broke and I had cut it out with a torch. What was left of the bolt would not come out of the control arm, even with a press. You might want to start looking on Ebay for a replacement now. It was over $200 from the dealer.

 

[wassup61]

sorry dude, that bolt is chemically welded to the sleeve inside the bushing. It is common on Ford Focuses and the only solution is to cut the head off/ torch the bushing, both of which result in the need for a new LCA.

 

[mattj3636]

im gonna press out the whole bushing