Yet another supension question!

[TeGGeR®]

Did an oil change today. While I was under there, I had a good look at the fasteners I will be rquired to attack when I eventually do the suspension bushings.

Everything appears straightforward, except for one item: The inboard-most bolt on the lower control arm.

The nut for that bolt is surrounded by a sort of strut or bracket that is welded to the crossmember. This bracket surrounds the nut too closely to be able to get even a thinwall socket on.

Am I correct in assuming that this nut is solidly mounted and will not rotate as I turn the bolt head? There are no spot welds on the nut.

Also looks like I'm going to have to hammer out the bolt that goes thru the bottom of the shock fork. After 14 years, it's gotta be rusted solid to its control arm bushing's inner sleeve.

 

[Elle (3)]

Did an oil change today. While I was under there, I had a good look at the fasteners I will be rquired to attack when I eventually do the suspension bushings.

Everything appears straightforward, except for one item: The inboard-most bolt on the lower control arm.

The nut for that bolt is surrounded by a sort of strut or bracket that is welded to the crossmember. This bracket surrounds the nut too closely to be able to get even a thinwall socket on.

Am I correct in assuming that this nut is solidly mounted and will not rotate as I turn the bolt head? There are no spot welds on the nut.

All three nuts screwing onto the three bolts of each of the (rear) lower control arms of my 1991 Civic are welded in place.

The inboard-most bolts (on both sides) are the only ones on the lower control arms with which I didn't have major problems. Sprayed them down with PB Blaster. They broke free fine.

Also looks like I'm going to have to hammer out the bolt that goes thru the bottom of the shock fork. After 14 years, it's gotta be rusted solid to its control arm bushing's inner sleeve.

I don't think I ever got that bolt free. I unfastened the inboard-most bolt and chiseled, ground, hacksawed the outboard bolt out. I replaced the lower control arm and strut/shock assembly as a unit.

Why are you replacing these bushings?

I did one side. It wasn't worth it.

 

[TeGGeR®]

Why are you replacing these bushings?

Cause they're ancient, saggy, and cracked. Kinda like Mary Tyler Moore.

I did one side. It wasn't worth it.

I must be a sucker for punishment: Not only am I gonna do it, but I'm gonna photograph the whole mess, mistakes and all!

I pick up the PB Blaster tomorrow afternoon, just before I get my car appraised.

 

[jim beam]

Did an oil change today. While I was under there, I had a good look at the fasteners I will be rquired to attack when I eventually do the suspension bushings.

Everything appears straightforward, except for one item: The inboard-most bolt on the lower control arm.

The nut for that bolt is surrounded by a sort of strut or bracket that is welded to the crossmember. This bracket surrounds the nut too closely to be able to get even a thinwall socket on.

Am I correct in assuming that this nut is solidly mounted and will not rotate as I turn the bolt head? There are no spot welds on the nut.

Also looks like I'm going to have to hammer out the bolt that goes thru the bottom of the shock fork. After 14 years, it's gotta be rusted solid to its control arm bushing's inner sleeve.

the nut's captive - it won't move. just remove the bolt.

 

[Elle (3)]

I must be a sucker for punishment: Not only am I gonna do it, but I'm gonna photograph the whole mess, mistakes and all!

Reminds me of me. At least I imagine you have a better set of tools for this job than I.

OTOH, based on what you said, I'm not touching my front trailing arm bushings until I hear a "wonk" in the back, indicating total failure of one.

I pick up the PB Blaster tomorrow afternoon, just before I get my car appraised.

I trust you already own a torch, 'cause this was one time when PB Blaster just wasn't enough. Also, I trust you've read the archives for the various techniques for dealing with those lower control arms. Like snapping off the welded nut...

Jim Beam knows all. ;-)

 

[jim beam]

Reminds me of me. At least I imagine you have a better set of tools for this job than I.

OTOH, based on what you said, I'm not touching my front trailing arm bushings until I hear a "wonk" in the back, indicating total failure of one.

I trust you already own a torch, 'cause this was one time when PB Blaster just wasn't enough. Also, I trust you've read the archives for the various techniques for dealing with those lower control arms. Like snapping off the welded nut...

Jim Beam knows all. ;-)

what's that supposed to mean???

 

[Elle (3)]

what's that supposed to mean???

'sa compliment. To be more precise: You have a lot of suggestions on this, with the exception you're not completely acquainted IIRC with the effects of northern winters on those control arm bolts.

We went through dealing with those ridiculous control arm bolts-frozen-in-bushings (well, the middle and outboard one, anyway) this past fall, with some other folks also contributing to the thread.

Buy the torch.

Otherwise, you'll forgive me for rolling the dice on my trailing arms. I'm figuring four more years on my beloved 91 Civic, so it won't be worth it. Though I must say she is running s-mooooth after my coolant change yesterday. Temperature gage even seems to be indicating a wee bit cooler. And shucks yes still over 40 mpg this fine spring.

What is it exactly that you do when driving your Honda that made you comment, not long ago, that I was less likely to notice new trailing arm bushings than you were? Simply boy-stuff like fast cornering?

Back to Tegger's project...

 

[jim beam]

'sa compliment. To be more precise: You have a lot of suggestions on this, with the exception you're not completely acquainted IIRC with the effects of northern winters on those control arm bolts.

We went through dealing with those ridiculous control arm bolts-frozen-in-bushings (well, the middle and outboard one, anyway) this past fall, with some other folks also contributing to the thread.

Buy the torch.

fair enough - won't labor the point about the californian idyll.

Otherwise, you'll forgive me for rolling the dice on my trailing arms. I'm figuring four more years on my beloved 91 Civic, so it won't be worth it. Though I must say she is running s-mooooth after my coolant change yesterday. Temperature gage even seems to be indicating a wee bit cooler. And shucks yes still over 40 mpg this fine spring.

What is it exactly that you do when driving your Honda that made you comment, not long ago, that I was less likely to notice new trailing arm bushings than you were? Simply boy-stuff like fast cornering?

i guess. i've torn old cracked bushings in the middle of a turn - can feel them go when the car suddenly becomes all sloppy & hard to control.

fast cornering? moi? it's never a point of honor to double up on an exit ramp's speed limit. ever. especially not when the car behind you is a rodded mustang. no sir.

 

[disallow]

Tegger: How much did your integra get appraised
for?

t

 

[TeGGeR®]

Tegger: How much did your integra get appraised
for?

$2,750 Cdn. I get the full report later this week. It cost $165 Cdn.

This does not mean I'd be able to sell the car for $2,750, just that the insurance company will pay me that much upon total loss, or will repair up to 80% of that figure in case of less-than-total loss. This figure is good for at least 3 years, with a re-appraisal advisable after 3 years, and required after 5 years.

Apparently, the way the insurance companies do things here in Ontario, once a car is older than ten years, it becomes rated as "basic transportation" and is worth between $500 and $1,500 as a total loss. The actual determinant of the value would be done by the damage appraiser after the collision, and they tend to evaluate low...

The instant the appraiser looked at my car, he said "this is worth a lot more than basic transportation". However, he said the main depressant on the insurance value of my car is the mileage, almost 246,000 miles. If the car had half the miles on it that it does, he could have set the value far higher than he did.

I've never had a car appraised before, and it was a very interesting experience.

The report will be posted when I get it.