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So I was replacing my rear upper control arm (passenger side) for my 1995 Acura legend today, and I was trying to take out the bolts that go into the subframe. One of them was hard to turn, so I got a jack handle for more torque and started on it again. Then it snapped and I thought that the bolt had broken... when I tried to pull the arm out though the bolt wouldn’t budge, and I realized what happened: the welded nut inside the subframe had broken off, and the bolt didn’t come out of the nut so it’s free spinning and stuck there!!! (The bolt came out a little though so I have some play). Now I was considering some options...

  • Cut the bolt and push the rest of it inside the frame and try force a bigger one through(and weld the upper arm to the frame because I’m not replacing it again)
  • Cut the bolt to get it out, push the rest through, and then cut the subframe peel it back and then access that way to put a new nut on the back and tighten it like that, then put the subframe back and weld it up(but I don’t know where to cut exactly)

What do you guys think??

JoErNanO
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sjfklsdafjks
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2 Answers2

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I encountered a similar problem some time ago changing a wishbone on a Mk3 Golf. The solution was to replace the subframe with a good second hand unit purchased cheaply from a vehicle breakers yard which was thoroughly cleaned and painted before fitting to prevent corrosion.

Depending on what access is like, you could potentially cut an opening in the subframe as it sits and try and get either a set of grips on the not-so captive nut or a spot of weld onto it to allow you to unscrew the stuck bolt. Once removed you could weld the captive nut back in place and then weld up the hole you'd cut into the frame.

Steve Matthews
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If possible.. try drilling a hole.. big enough for a large screwdriver and a replacement nut to fit through.. in the side of the subframe, in front of OR right next to the area where the captive nut is spinning.

Stick the large screwdriver through the hole using the hole itself and the flat of the screwdriver as a lever to jam the captive nut to stop it spinning, whilst you unscrew the bolt.

If successful remove the captive nut & replace the it with a suitable one, using a telescopic type magnet to remove old nut & position new one if necessary, then weld the hole back up.

Orb
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