Seized Damper Bolt

jayok

What was to be a 1 hour max job turned into an absolute dog of a job yesterday and it's still not finished. I was in the process of changing the rear shocks on the car yesterday which in reality is only two bolts (the rear suspension has a separate spring and damper). However, on the OSR the bolt connecting to the LCA is completely seized.

Now, I'm no stranger to seized bolts and I've tried the following:

1. Impact wrench
2. Proper Penetrating fluid (multiple soaks left over night)
3. Heat on the thread of the LCA arm bolt (integrated into the arm)
4. Breaker-bar + lots of torque


But still not joy. I don't care about the bolt as I've a new one here, but I don't want to be stripping out the LCA and replacing this as this will add to the cost (>€200).

I've put back the suspension and I've a new shock on one side which was no problem but on the OSR the old one remains.

I can't really cut-out or drill the bolt as it's SAE Grade 8 steel and would probably burn more drill bits than cut.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

jayok

Ok sorted in the end.

Turns out the steel center of the bushing had seized onto the bolt itself, so I wasn't just trying to turn the bolt but the whole bushing :eek:

Anyhow, the bushing was burnt out (rubber) and the steel center of the bushing exposed. This was then free to turn and the bolt was removed.

Pfff... the hours spent on seized bolts...

rex-x

Buy a high cfm compressor and quality impact gun like an Ingersol Rand Ti series and never have such troubles again