Delberts Wallet Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 I've been trying to get that pesky bottom damper bolt out for sometime. Tried spraying it with stuff, tried hitting it to break the rust but nothing. I guess my only option now is to remove the bottom wishbone, with damper attached and try cutting the bolt. But what do I do with the bit that is left screwed into the wishbone. How do I get that out? Gareth Blue and Carbon 6 Speed Supersport with new wheels
Brucey Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Gareth, Only cut it as a last resort! If you do a search, I had the same problem and got lots of advice. I eventually removed the wishbone & shock and heated it. (described in previous thread). Be patient and good luck Bruce.
old captain slow Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Tried tightening first? Needs copper slip when eventually you do succeed. C7 CDW
Tony Whitley Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Or jack the car up, fit a socket and breaker bar so that it rests on the floor, lower the car. It worked for the crankshaft pulley bolt on my car
Tony C Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Try a 7/32" Allen socket. Put a long extension on it to give the ratchet room to be swung and gently increase the torque. Be careful, because once the allen key hole in the bolt is badgered, you'll have a hell of a job getting it out.
Delberts Wallet Posted March 21, 2006 Author Posted March 21, 2006 Tried an allen socket and the thing won't budge. Will heating it up damage the bush on the damper. Not bothered about the powder coat as I wan't to get it re-done hence removing the damper Gareth Blue and Carbon 6 Speed Supersport with new wheels
Tony Whitley Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Thank you Tony C, that's the best compliment I've had in ages My method might be slightly OTT for a 7/32 allen socket...
Beelzebub Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Do you know anyone close who bought an air impact wrench from Aldi 🤔 That would be a good start before resorting to something more drastic. D.
Nic Day Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Tony - come on tell him about how we got my one out - go on you know you want to!!!!! start with a 7/32 - I butcher it!!!! Move on to a 6 mm one and an impact wrench - Tony starts to move it using a mixture of hammer and then sledge (me holding the impact wrench ) then Tony with the ratchet, it again moves a little - I have a go and butcher it again!!!! Now get frustrated swear alot Last chance and move up to an 8mm - this time miss out the hammer and go straight to the Sledge all the while praying. Lastly dont let me touch it!!!!!!!! 😳 It finally came out - now new dampers in with new bolts covered in (well more like drenched in) copperslip!!! Good luck Nic Winner of the Largest pair in a non SV 7 (Rumble 2003) here
Brucey Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Gareth, I used a thin piece of metal to protect my shock rubber bush and angled the blowtorch flame away, but ended up replacing it anyway. (£3 each from CC, I look forward to the thread on that one 😬) Bruce.
Myles Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Gareth, That reminds me - you've still got my... Anyway, I had to remove a seized bolt from the wishbones I bought. To cut the story short, I tried drilling the bolt out (moderate success, but I gave up) and ended up trying the EFA (IIRC) method - cut the bolt at the head-end and then try and bend the remaining bit using the damper as a lever. At this point, I realised that the bolt wasn't seized in the 'bone, it was seized in the damper bush. As an aside, I could not bend it enough so that I could have slid the damper off the bolt even if it wasn't seized. I then cut the other end of the bolt - reasoning that I could easily unscrew it from the 'bone - and really ran into trouble at that point. Not enough bolt left to get a good purchase on. Hacked it around (a lot), tried drilling and ended up with some bolt left in there and a fairly knackered (if present at all) thread in the boss. I was having Arch refurb the lot anyway while they fixed the chassis - and Bruce was able to put a new boss on, so the 'bone was saved. Either that or he just bunged me a spare and didn't let on... So. Be careful. Replacement lower widetrack wishbones are only £148(ish) each... Project Scope-Creep is live... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com
Colin Heseltine Posted March 24, 2006 Posted March 24, 2006 Gareth, Recently removed both bottom bolts on my car. If you have an impact driver (not impact wrench as this would be much too fierce) and can adapt down to the allen key size required try that. Its the hammer shock as the bolt is turned that you need. Alternatively use 3/8 drive allen key with a 'T' wrench and tap (hit) the end as you turn the wrench. A few days soaking in WD40 might also help. My biggest problem was cleaning the threads up afterwards. Did not have a long shank tap that would reach right across the width of the wishbone so used a long bolt with a hacksawed slot along its length to clean out the threads. Need to be very careful and ensure do not cross thread else may need a new wishbone. If the allen socket on the head of the bolt is at all damaged I would fit new bolts, else next time you will have an even worse problem. Best of Luck, Colin.
Harry Flatters Posted March 24, 2006 Posted March 24, 2006 Just to be on the safe side I replace these bolts every year *arrowright*Harry Flatters *arrowright* AKA Steve Mell - Surrey AO and Su77on Se7ener
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