Seized bolt in front lower wishbone - Live axle

[Gridgway]

Today's question regarding my crossflow live axle car is that the bolt that goes through the bush in the front lower wishbone and through the chassis upright is seized into the bush.  With the nut undone, the bolt will turn only a small amount.

I could ignore it and carry on, but now I know it's not right I want to sort it.

The only thing  can think of is to try and move the wishbone a bit to be able to hacksaw through the bolt.  Then I can get the bush out of the wishbone with the press and put it together with a new bush and bolt.  Both sides are like this.

Any sage advice?

Cheers Graham

[timb2117]

Not exactly sure of your location/ area worked on but the key thing to me is "the bolt will only turn a  small amount" - for me that would = cover it in wd4o and keep moving it a small bit until that gets larger and larger, along with more doses of wd40.

However if this is painful, can you get in with a  grinder bit easier than hacksaw? As You note fresh bolts will be needed anyway.

Sorry I'm unfamiliar with your car.

 

[rkeywood]

Does the bolt feel like its turning on the rubber and then springs back when you take the spanner off? If the bearing inner is seized to the bolt along it's length then it'll be tough to move. Rost Off Ice might work, otherwise I guess you're cutting in front of the chassis upright.

Robert

[SM25T]

PlusGas better than WD40 for corrosion. When you get to rebuild, good smear of copaslip on shank of bolt and spot or two of loctite on thread as it acts as an anti corrosion product.

[Gridgway]

Yes, I may not have described it very well!  The bolt is rusted onto the steel inner sleeve in the bush, and the movement is the rubber.  I'll put a picture up shortly to show the orientation.  I don't think that cutting the bolt is an option as the wishbone wont move as I'd thought it might!

I've been pluss-gassing them for a while now.

[Beagler]

You could try. A socket over the bolt head, a clamp on the socket and end  of bolt pressing it out. Tap the clamp end and increase pressure. Assuming you can get the clamp on the bolt.

[SM25T]

Sounds like hacksaw through the bolt either side of the bush, remove from car and press bush out. Lots of copaslip on bolt shank and sleeve next time.

[Gridgway]

Thanks for all the help. After a bit of head scratching I decided to turn the bolt with a bigger lever. it might not move. It might sheer the centre part of the bush, or it might turn in the bush. I've been putting on plus gas for a week.

 

Well it worked, with lots of screeching the bolt turned. Then lots of hard work later the bolt was out. The nearside one was much worse then the offside.

 

Now I need to work out how to get the lower wishbone off as it looks like it has to come forward a long way for the front mounting to clear and it can't as the bodywork is in the way!

 

I'll consult the build manual.

Thanks all, another job on it's way!!

[SM25T]

Nearside always worse as more rainwater nearer gutter of road .

[rkeywood]

Re the wishbone removal. It's a pair of bushes in the front mount - prise the front one out and that'll give you enough movement to swing the back out, then pull the front forward. 

R

[Gridgway]

Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow. I thought it must be, but I didn't have the wherewithall to give it a go!