Can't get bolt off of Rear Lower Control Arm "B" - Honda Prelude Forum

Phamine · 06-25-2004, 03:44 PM

It's the control arm for alighment purposes. I need to take them out to change the bushings since the bushings are worn and have some play. How do you take the bolt off? The middle of the bolt should be unthreaded but even using a hammer I can't get the bolt out. The bole looks like it has rust welded with the sleeve of the bushing. Ideas?

BoYgUaN · 06-25-2004, 05:10 PM

i would try and lighly pry the area around it and pull it out
if u cant even move it with a hammer then there is deffinatly something wrong

Phamine · 06-25-2004, 05:30 PM

I'll try to see tommorrow. I sprayed a good amount of liquid wrench in there. I'm afraid hammering it too much and destroying the threads.

vtecspd · 06-25-2004, 05:39 PM

You are right, the bolt and metal sleeve have rusted together. BTDT. You need to torch it. Before you do that, order replacement bolts, these are special 'cam' bolts. The ecentric of the cam bolt allows you to get the toe setting you want.

An alternative is the sawzall it on either side of the metal sleeve but that is a PIA.

Phamine · 06-25-2004, 05:53 PM

Part #31 - ~$9

$!8 for 2 bolts. I'll see if I can take them out safely....

PRelude787 · 06-26-2004, 11:19 AM

Good luck man....I had the same exact problem a month ago. I sprayed almost half of a brand new can of PB Blaster and it still wouldn't come out. What I did was I used a rachet on the cam bolt and pushed it as hard as I could with my foot until it moved...slightly. Then I was able to get the bolt hammered out. It took me a really long time to get this done because when I got the bolt out I tried to get the bushing out and had the same problem.

I had to destroy the damn thing just to try and get it loose. Then after about an hour of hammering it came loose off the arm. And get the new bushing in there was no walk in the park either. If I were you though....I'd get the new bolt along with the bushing......it's just best to have them both new. Also, I don't think you're gonna be able to reuse the bolt once you get it out....I'm betting its gonna get pretty messed up by the time your done with it.

Please let me know how everything goes because ever since I changed the bolt I haven't been able to get a proper alignment on the car. The toe on the wheel where I changed the bolt and bushing is off by .23Âº and that's the closest that they can get it.

OH btw....here's my thread ......look at all the help I got from PO.

Sonik_Fury · 06-26-2004, 11:45 AM

Have you guys tried a really good impact wrench. I've found very few things you can't get off with one of these.

PRelude787 · 06-26-2004, 12:11 PM

I actually found out exactly what one of those was last week. I'm definitely gonna get one next time I need it. That definitely would have helped with this bolt/bushing from hell.