Big problem

[Bongo]

yea so today was the day for me to install my new suspension. i got the fronts done with no problem. then comes the back. i tried to take off the lower bolt that holds the strut on the bottom and the fuckin head of the bolt snapped right the fuck off. there was no sign of it about to break either, it was just a smooth push then popped off. and not the rest of the bolt is stuck in there and it will not come out for anything. i've hammered it, grinded the other side off and tried to hammer it out that way, tried to drill it but i can't because i think it's steel and it seriously will not cut into it. I have been down in my garage for literally 3 hours just trying to get this fuckin thing out and it won't budge. I seriously have no idea what to do about it. and the worst part is that i need the car because i need to get places and i can't put it back together, and also it's jacked up half in and half out of the garage right now so i can't leave it. i don't know what to do, so any helpful tips are welcome.

[Bongo]

anything?

[HondaB18]

well golly that does sound like a big problem. you are in a pickle.

but....i was in the same dilemma before. the first time was a long time ago when i stripped the screw that mouned the grille in my old car. i didn't know shit back then so phempa came to the rescue and told me to invest in some vice grips. problem fixed

the next time was when i was changing my brake rotors and the screws were stripped. i had to drill off the head and sprayed liquid wrench, tapped it a few times and waited for a few mins. took my trusty pair of vice grip and took off the remaining screw

if that doesn't work get a more powerful drill/drill bit and keep going at it

[Gettin_faster91]

You have a pain in the ass problem. Its the lower strut bushing. Special order one from honda. I ended up totaly cutting the mounting tabs off the rear strut just to get it out.. There is a diy somewhere cpmike made Took me and a friend 4 hours to get the old one out and hew one on. THEY ARE A BITCH. Ill look for the diy for ya.

[PRIMOCB7]

the part of the bolt where the head snapped off.. maybe you can use a vise grip/locking pliers and use that to unscrew the rest of the bolt out.

[Gettin_faster91]

If its the same problem i had that bolt will not unscrew. Here ya go, hope this helps...http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...+strut+bushing Like i said this is a total pain in the ass. But be patent Gool luck with it.

[Bongo]

wow, thank you very much for all the info. I guess I'll be getting that new bushing, I might aswell get the other side while I'm at it. And also the 2 bolts. Thanx for all the info though I appreciate it

[LinX]

Damn I feel for ya man. This reminds me of the time 1 lug nut broke right after the other. Took me a whole day to take them off, jack up my rims, and break 7 drill bits. Persistence is key.

[SteveB]

Housing? You just need the bushings, and the bolts. VERY common problem.

Drill out the rubber on the bushing, and hammer or push out the centre, then cut out the outer with a sawzall.

[Bongo]

I just called around and nothing is open because it's sunday...last night it was too late to call anywhere by the time i was done working on it so i'm gunna have to wait until tomorrow on my lunch break or something to call napa and see if they have one and if not i'll have to order it and wait a few more days. I'm just gunna get both sides because the same thing is most likely gunna happen to the other side.

[deckeda]

Actually, don't be surprised if the other one unscrews pretty as you please, just to mock you. Soak that bastard in PB Blaster or WD40 for a while before attempting.

I too snapped one off, and it was just as you described --- no warning, just oozed right off. I understand rust and corrosion is a frightful enemy but IMO Honda really specified bolts a bit too weak for that area, it's just too common.

And I know there's not enough meat on the bolt to get Vise Grips on it, am I right?

Because my rear shocks were old and not going to be re-used, I went out and bought an angle grinder and cut off the bottom of the shock. Sparks everywhere; it was fun. I then tried drilling out the old bushing but never could get good leverage/good angle on it so I wound up taking off the knuckle and placing it in a bench vise to better attack it. Broke 3 drill bits. And had to use a chisel to get out the bushing's sleeve.

Hammering in the new bushing wasn't too bad; I put it in the freezer the night before but still had to carefully line it up before it would start to go in. You'll get it but it will take some time.

[Bongo]

Yea, I'm taking a break from working on this as i type lol. I got the strut off and drilled the mount/bushing out and now i'm working on the outer ring. I am using a hammer and a chisel and it's not going too great. The fuckin thing is in there good. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night workin on this lol.

[Gettin_faster91]

Yeah i know the feeling they are a bitch. i need to change my other one but after the first one im like uh screw it. Took me about 6 hours total having to hacksaw the shock tabs off lol just to get the damn shock outta the way. But it sounds like your almost there. cpmikes new one when right in but i had to hammer the shit outta mine with a block of wood to keep from messing it up. Be you almost done... BTW did i mention when i did my springs i had the other 3 wheels already torn apart just happend that the very last bolt was the stuck one.... Needless to say i was pissed. I put it all back together just to go get new parts to replace it. PAIN IN THE ASS IM TELLING YA. Keep up the good work.

[Bongo]

^^haha yea same with me lol. I got 2 new bushings and bolts but the passenger side one came right out with no problem of course, like said, just to taunt me lol. But yea after hours and hours of drilling, grinding, and cutting i got the messed up one off and put in the new one and yea that was a bitch to get in too lol. Didn't take all too long though. And when I was done fixing that i just said fuck it and left the passenger side one the way it is lol. But I have the parts if i ever need them though.

And I took her for a ride afterwards and let me say.....it was worth all that bullshit, well worth it. And thanx for all the help, I seriously would have been lost without the it lol.

[NorcoAccord]

I have hread of some people just getting a tourch and heating around the metail on the outside and then just getting a hammer and screwdriver. I dont know if that would work here but who knows.