Scotty, Your videos were awesome and I'm thrilled that you answer questions, hope you can give me…

Luann

Scotty, Your videos were awesome and I'm thrilled that you answer questions, hope you can give me some guidance! 2000 Honda Civic Coupe EX needs trailing arm bushing replaced to pass inspection. The toe arm is bolted to the frame. When unbolting the toe arm from the frame, the bolt and bushing in the end of the toe arm are fused together and spin together and the bolt doesn't back out. It doesn't go back in either so it appears that the threads in the car frame are stripped now (augh!!). There's a curved piece of metal welded to the frame that goes around the end of the toe arm and the bolt goes through leaving just a quarter of an inch of the bolt threads visible. The only idea I have is if that bolt could be cut somehow, (a metal cutting hand hack saw blade maybe? Would that cut a bolt like that?) Is there a tool I'm not aware of that could help in this situation and of course what to do with the thread problem. It's a 14mm bolt that goes through the bushing of the toe arm, I don't imagine that a larger bolt could be used so the threads in the frame couldn't be tapped larger. I own a tap and die set but am pretty much a novice with actually using it! I don't have the money to pay someone to do this but fortunately I love learning how to master these problems. You've been such an inspiration Scotty, thank you so much, What do you recommend?

Comments (2)

No. 1-2

Luann

Nov 1, 2017

Scotty, Thanks so much for the reply! I'll try the heat! Since I sent the question I saw your video about using Fix-A-Thread on the starter that fell out because the threads were stripped. I don't have welding equipment, don't know how to weld, that feels overwhelming, but I have tapped threads. I read up on the thread coils like Fix-A-Thread and feel like I could do that! My only concern though is would the fix be strong enough for a suspension part like the toe arm connected to the trailing arm which is holding the wheel on after all! Would it be strong enough and hold the toe adjustment? I'm game, Scotty; would it be a good solution? I really hope so! Thanks, Luann

ScottyKilmer

Editor

Oct 29, 2017

heat the parts up red hot with a torch first to try to get them off. They often come off then and you put new ones in. Heat can get old bolts or nuts off, then you can try to tap em in. or do like I often do and weld stuff in place of stripped out ones