F**K i need serious help quick

[lolcantturn]

I put liquid wrench overnight, let it sit, tried to remove the lower shock bolt......AND IT FUCKING SNAPPED. I don't have money for a new rear knuckle, and I need to get this shit done today because my car's on the street and I can't lower it from the stands cause it has no shock absorber..


what can i do?

[Dude]

You actually probably lower it down with out the strut attached if you had too

[nrubenstein]

In an emergency, remove the shock and drop it. It'll drive like shit (i would not drive it outside of emergencies/to the mechanic) until you can get that drilled out or put in a new trailing arm.

[lolcantturn]

would an extractor tool work in this case ?

[ZM Blue Devil]

passenger side right? I think I have a complete trailing arm...

email me if that will help.

[tjts1]

[Jean]

Lower it on the spring, remove shock. Move the car, get the broken bolt extracted or replace trailing arm (there is no knuckle there)

[lolcantturn]

passenger side right? I think I have a complete trailing arm...

email me if that will help.

that's right. I emailed ya!

I hope that will help.. this bolt is torqued down quite extreme.

In other news, thank goodness I'm upgrading to bilsteins cause this is the original shock from '88 with 0 miles. It has 250,000+ now. It stays in place if I push it up all the way...and the previous owner lowered it on eibach springs this way!

[jlevie]

I would suggest that you either replace the trailing arm or take the car to a shop to have the broken bolt extracted. While not a terrible job with the car on a lift, it is going to be very difficult to do the car on jack stands.

As mentioned above, there's no problem with lowering the car without the shock. The rear will be a bit bouncy, but no harm will come. I'd completely remove the shock so it won't bang around.

[Stevo-iX]

the bolt shouldn't be too hard to extract, without the bolt head it isn't held in there that strongly. Get an extractor, they're cheap and have saved me on numerous occasions.

[scottinAZ]

either take it in, and have it done, or replace the arm. using an easy out is a good way to get the bolt really fucked up when the easy out snaps off (and most will...)

If you have the space, and the tools, drill the old bolt out and retap the hole. if you dont have a way to center the drill bit in the bolt, DONT BOTHER, it will only make the job more difficult for whomever does do the job.

being as he is in Jersey, the stub is probably rusted in there pretty damn good.

[AndrewBird]

Heat it up cherry red hot and let it cool before you try the extractor. Heat will make everything expand and help break the rust loose.

[KenC]

If that thing snapped off after a liquid wrench soak, it's probably VERY seized.

[b*saint]

Looks easy. Are you sure you went the right way? Righty tighty lefty loosie?

[lolcantturn]

Thanks guys. I was looking at the broken nut like this for about 5 minutes


and then I pondered up some great idea and got it out. bilsteins rock.

Thanks for all the help!