'94 Civic Suspension Help, Busted Nut

[psycho_freke]

Soo... I installed new Energy Suspension bushings on the front end of my '94 Civic. Everything was going great until we tried to bolt the compliance bushing (the big one on the backside of the LCA) back to the sub-frame. When we tried to tighten one of the bolts, the welds on the thread sleeve on the inside of the subframe broke loose and the bolt just spins now. I know I can get the bolt off if I cut it. The problem is, how can I fix this? There doesn't seem to be a way to get into the inside of the subframe to attach a nut without breaking the welds and opening it up or cutting a hole in the subframe and going in from the top. The bolt that broke is the front one of the two that are next to each other on the bracket. This pic is a CRX, but it will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i83/psycho_freke/FrontLCA.jpg

[psycho_freke]

I don't like either of those two options (opening the sub-frame or cutting a hole). I don't want to mess with the integrity of the sub-frame. My last resort option would be to grab the rusty POS of a sub-frame that's under my integra and bolt it in there. That sounds like quite a bit of work though and at that point I'm assuming I would have to do the power steering conversion as well (another option I'm not too keen on since the lines have surface rust all over them and the tie rods need to be replaced on that rack). There just has to be a better way...

[RBS]

you will have to cut a small hole, reweld a new nut and weld a plate back in or replace the entire section of subframe. there is no other way thats going to properly fix it.


on a side note, cutting a small hole will NOT do anything to the integrity of the frame as a whole.. unless your doing some crazy driving where you need everything rock solid and bulletproof.

[psycho_freke]

you will have to cut a small hole, reweld a new nut and weld a plate back in or replace the entire section of subframe. there is no other way thats going to properly fix it.


on a side note, cutting a small hole will NOT do anything to the integrity of the frame as a whole.. unless your doing some crazy driving where you need everything rock solid and bulletproof.


So, if cutting a hole won't hurt it, then I'm assuming you're saying to weld a plate back in place to keep water out?

I do drive a little crazy, but you can only get away with so much on the surface streets ;)

[RBS]

So, if cutting a hole won't hurt it, then I'm assuming you're saying to weld a plate back in place to keep water out?

I do drive a little crazy, but you can only get away with so much on the surface streets ;)

pretty much just to keep junk out and helps prevent rust... which is why it broke now, rust. lol

[psycho_freke]

...reweld a new nut and weld a plate back in...

This part might be a little difficult without having a welder, lol

[1civic]

He is right, the only other option is to replace the whole deal... I would replace the whole-shoot and shebang!!

[silversol]

Are you useing an impact gun. that would probably run the bolt down despite the weld be broke on the nut.

[silversol]

Are you useing an impact gun. that would probably run the bolt down despite the weld be broke on the nut.

[psycho_freke]

Are you useing an impact gun. that would probably run the bolt down despite the weld be broke on the nut.

No, I don't have any airtools. I do know someone with a halfway decent compressor though, and he might have one. I know someone else that may have an electric impact, but I don't know about those. The bolt/nut free spins pretty easily though. How would I manage to get enough pressure against the nut to run it down?

[1civic]

If you can find an impact it may spin fast enough, but sometimes it takes a wedge also.. I told you another route since I know what parts you can get..

*wink-wink*

Later!!

[psycho_freke]

If you can find an impact it may spin fast enough, but sometimes it takes a wedge also.. I told you another route since I know what parts you can get..

*wink-wink*

Later!!

Yeah, I may just have to go that route...

[turbob20]

just cut a square hole big enough to get in there with a wrench to hold nut maybe even replace the whole thing with new nut n bolt and tighten it on down but you need to tighten with an impact and ive ran into that same problem with 483hp and running slicks and 4 years later with open hole still in sub frame with traction bars running mid 12's and 100's of drag slick passes no problems bro! youll be ok i promise good luck.

[YoItsCarlie]

just cut a square hole big enough to get in there with a wrench to hold nut maybe even replace the whole thing with new nut n bolt and tighten it on down but you need to tighten with an impact and ive ran into that same problem with 483hp and running slicks and 4 years later with open hole still in sub frame with traction bars running mid 12's and 100's of drag slick passes no problems bro! youll be ok i promise good luck.

this is for someone who is comfortable doing their own fab work.