well, that's just great.

[jlee]

lateral link bolt in the subaru broke today - probably going to have to just cut it off so I can get the hub assembly out (wheel bearing), then buy a new bolt and new bushings....

Salt needs to DIAF.

 

[JCH13]

Why would you do that?

 

[jlee]

You know, I could probably put it all back together and drive the damn thing and nobody would ever know the difference...hammering a punch on one side while putting an impact on the other side did nothing at all. Nothing could possibly go wrong! :hmm:

 

[Raduque]

I don't quite know what I'm supposed to be looking at in that pic.... is it that spring thing that's poking out?

 

[jlee]

I don't quite know what I'm supposed to be looking at in that pic.... is it that spring thing that's poking out?

Nope, that's the parking brake cable. Look at the middle of the photo, but slightly to the lower right - there's supposed to be a really long bolt that goes through that lateral link, all the way through the hub, and through the next lateral link where there's a nut and a washer holding it on. The head snapped off the bolt - a friend was over and we worked on it all night...couldn't get it to come out.

The ratchet strap was hooked onto that lateral link in an effort to put some pressure on it to assist it in breaking free...no luck.

It may make more sense in this photo:

The yellow ratchet strap is attached to the rear lateral link. The red ratchet strap is attached to the front lateral link, and they're trying to pull the two apart. The bolt runs through them both, as well as the hub assembly in the middle. It's not threaded in the middle and it should slide right out. We can't even get it to rotate. Hello corrosion..

 

[NutBucket]

Thanks for reminding my why I will never live somewhere that has salted roads.

 

[alfa147x]

Move to Arizona already...

 

[Demo24]

Guess you'll have to torch it out if you can't knock it out, that sucks.

 

[MotF Bane]

Got a whizzer?

 

[Howard]

Oh well. Next time make sure there's plenty of antiseize.

 

[JCH13]

I don't know why you're having such trouble... they popped right out on my old Miata... :hmm:

 

[exdeath]

Ouch, bet that was wobbly as hell when it broke.

 

[Demo24]

I don't know why you're having such trouble... they popped right out on my old Miata... :hmm:

I don't know about other cars but it's open faced on the inside so it can rust from both ends basically.

 

[skyking]

Get a driver bolt that will fit inside without interference. Spray the bore and head of broken bolt with penetrating oil of your choice.
The straps are not effective for the next operation. Get 2 hammers, 8 pound or heavier. Somebody has a splitting maul to borrow.
One guy holds the head of a hammer right next to the bolt head, the other uses the driver bolt as a drift and give it a whack.
Every now and then reverse the process and use the drift on the bolt head, and hold the hammer on the end it broke off of. That will shock the bolt and assist in migrating the oil into the bore.
After a while you'll be able to turn the bolt.

 

[jlee]

Ouch, bet that was wobbly as hell when it broke.

It broke when we were trying to take it apart - I could probably still drive it since nothing moves.

Get a driver bolt that will fit inside without interference. Spray the bore and head of broken bolt with penetrating oil of your choice.
The straps are not effective for the next operation. Get 2 hammers, 8 pound or heavier. Somebody has a splitting maul to borrow.
One guy holds the head of a hammer right next to the bolt head, the other uses the driver bolt as a drift and give it a whack.
Every now and then reverse the process and use the drift on the bolt head, and hold the hammer on the end it broke off of. That will shock the bolt and assist in migrating the oil into the bore.
After a while you'll be able to turn the bolt.

Already tried a hammer on a punch, but there's not a whole lot of room to work with since it's still on the car.

 

[skyking]

bigger hammer = shorter strokes

 

[LTC8K6]

Air chisel? Something that will hammer for you in a confined space?

 

[exdeath]

It broke when we were trying to take it apart - I could probably still drive it since nothing moves.

You would have no toe stabilization with only one lateral arm.

Trying to get passive all wheel steering?

 

[exdeath]

Oh I see, broke the end off at the nut, and it still won't come out with nothing holding it...

Sucks to be you. Is the broken end of the bolt fused to the rear bushing sleeve? Those sleeves are almost always bare untreated aluminum.

Go do some E brake power slides with sticky tires and see if you can break it loose :awe:

Seriously though, might try dropping the rear inner end and get some leverage and angle on the outer end.

 

[jlee]

heh yeah, most definitely fused to the sleeve - on both links. I have new bushings, bolt, washers and nut on the way. I'm thinking sawzall, cutoff tool or maybe torch and just burn the bushings out..

 

[exdeath]

Rusty iron bolt + aluminum bushing + torch = slim chance of fireworks

 

[JCH13]

Rusty iron bolt + aluminum bushing + torch = slim chance of fireworks

+1 to unintentional thermite

 

[bonky]

you could consider putting the nut back on the far side and tighten it up real good, then commence with the penetrating oil and whacking (and torching). some tension on the bolt from the threaded end may be beneficial in getting it to break loose.

i tried like hell to make thermite from all the aluminum and iron grindings on my bench... no luck

 

[exdeath]

Nvm

 

[jlee]

you could consider putting the nut back on the far side and tighten it up real good, then commence with the penetrating oil and whacking (and torching). some tension on the bolt from the threaded end may be beneficial in getting it to break loose.

i tried like hell to make thermite from all the aluminum and iron grindings on my bench... no luck

Tried putting the nut on with two washers so it would try to pull it through - had someone with a hammer/punch on the other side while I hit the nut end with my (shitty) impact. No luck.