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HELP! 17mm LCA bolt is effing me over!

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dirtyd

New Member
Its stuck in there because of some rubber gasket or something, and its bending the frame its in. Now, I can twist the bolt either way, and the bolt doesn't come out or go in. What the heck am I supposed to do?
 
mndsm

mndsm

I'M OFFENDED!
Pics? my intial assessment is that you don't have a ton to worry about just yet. If it's spinning on both sides, it's actually probably loose. stick a screwdriver in the one end and hit it with a hammer (not on the bolt head, but the tail end or whatever) so that it pops the bolt towards out. Chances are the bolt is already free and spinning it is wedging the bushing and bending it as you say.
 
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FunK73

New Member
Your spring is still putting pressure on it in that picture. You need to take the pressure off that point in order to slide it out, otherwise it will continue to get caught in the threads of the bolt.
 
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DrWebster

Guest
FunK73 said:
Your spring is still putting pressure on it in that picture. You need to take the pressure off that point in order to slide it out, otherwise it will continue to get caught in the threads of the bolt.
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+1, you have to put a floor jack under the LCA and press it upwards to be able to pull that bolt out. Then, let the jack down slowly and the spring will fall out.
 
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FunK73

New Member
Thank god you didnt get that bolt out without a jack under it. The spring would have unloaded and probably done some damage. To you or the car
 
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dirtyd

New Member
jack was removed solely for picture taking...

I did jack it up, and it still wouln't come out. Workdawg stopped by and was stumped. Going to bring it in.......I quit.
 
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FunK73

New Member
Theres a balance to it I know. You cant let it droop, but you cant jack it up too much either or youll have the same issue, just going in the other direction. Hard to say though. I would say between the two of you, you would have figured it out.
 
Workdawg

Workdawg

NARWHAL
It's fucked up, that's about all there is to that, lol.

The inside of the bushing on the LCA is threaded also, and it looks like the thread there and on the bolt got completely seized up somehow. As he was backing the bolt out of the welded on nut, it pulled the bushing along as well (spinning and shredding it to bits) and bent the hell out of the LCA bracket. You've got to see it to know what I mean, but it's FUBAR.
 
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dirtyd

New Member
Yup....FUBAR. Thats why the car is now at Walser Mazda.

Any of you guys put on new fatcat bumpstops on the rears? Am I supposed to glue them to the inside of the upper bracket, and then jam the dust boot onto the first lip of the bumpstop?
 
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dirtyd

New Member
Walser just called me back. They said they've never seen that bolt and bushing get molded together like they are. They're replacing the LCA (at charge, of course it was expected). Then, they're going to do the full install, which I should have just done in the first place. Going to cost me almost as much as the parts!

Dan, thanks for stopping by yesterday. I really appreciate that you could come over and at least take a look.
 
mndsm

mndsm

I'M OFFENDED!
Man, that sucks. At least you know it was something rare and not something you did wrong.
 
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dirtyd

New Member
True. I would feel even more sick to my stomach if I was the reason they were stuck together and botched up everything.

What are your opinions as far as alignment goes after the install is complete? Should I get it done right away, or wait a week or so for the suspension to settle before I get it aligned?
 
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dirtyd

New Member
How much would it cost me to go to him? I saw you and Tom recommended him on another thread. Seems like he works on all the fun cars!
 
Workdawg

Workdawg

NARWHAL
He's a one-man shop and I think he just charges based on what he feels like charging. When he rang me out he was just like "How's $80 sound?"... lol

He's a really eccentric dude, but he seems to do a good job. All the local autox guys swear by him.
 
mndsm

mndsm

I'M OFFENDED!
Workdawg said:
He's a one-man shop and I think he just charges based on what he feels like charging. When he rang me out he was just like "How's $80 sound?"... lol

He's a really eccentric dude, but he seems to do a good job. All the local autox guys swear by him.
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This. I've heard about 80 bones from most people so I can't imagine it's much more than that if at all.
 
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