Beaten by 4 bolts!!

[civicx3]

im trying to get my subframe brace off my eg6 and the 4 bolts holding it are a nightmare, i hate being beaten by my car and at the moment its winning.

because of the angle of the bolts you can just about get a ratchet/spanner on them but you cant put any force behind it because of where they are. Tried using a pipe as a extension but that was useless and it doesnt look possible from under the car

without taking the whole subframe off i cant see how im going to do it so has anyone got ideas or if they done this before please post how they did it

the bar im trying to take off....





thanks

 

[chrissyEK41991]

Did you try using heat on them.?

 

[oifovo]

I'm maybe a bit thick but I can't see in the picture which bolts do you mean? Fancy re uploading them with some fancy red arrows fabricated in ms paint?

 

[SRossi]

I'm maybe a bit thick but I can't see in the picture which bolts do you mean? Fancy re uploading them with some fancy red arrows fabricated in ms paint?

In the second image look directly in the center of the image in the gap between the subframe and the tie-rod. You can see the head of the bolt sticking up. After you've found it in that photo it's easy to locate in the first photo.

To the OP, I don't know exactly how much room is in there but can't you get an extension on a ratchet that will allow room above the tie rod allowing you to get some force behind it? Otherwise as said you could try heating it up.

 

[oifovo]

In the second image look directly in the center of the image in the gap between the subframe and the tie-rod. You can see the head of the bolt sticking up. After you've found it in that photo it's easy to locate in the first photo.

To the OP, I don't know exactly how much room is in there but can't you get an extension on a ratchet that will allow room above the tie rod allowing you to get some force behind it? Otherwise as said you could try heating it up.

So I am thick maybe try to get one of these? Saved me on many occasions! Combined with extension bar and a good squirt of wd40 it should do the trick!

1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3 Pce Universal Joint Set 4 Square Drive Ratchet Sockets | eBay

 

[civicx3]

cheers for the replys

as said the bolts im trying to undo are in the middle of the second picture, can just see the heads of them ( theres 2 bolts each side, passanger/driver )

i havent tried heat, il give that a go once i found or bought something suitable, ive got a blow torch but dont think the rubber gaitors will like that!

ive also tried those flexible socket extensions in that link, nice idea but its the angle of the bolts thats giving me trouble but i will win this battle!


edited that picture to show the drivers side bolts

 

[elchunk]

why are you trying to remove said subframe brace for anyway? I know a way to do it but it is entirely at you own risk and will probably end up breaking or bending two spanners. First of clean them up best you can with a wire brush, then spray a load of penetrating oil over them and leave for a day. Now try and get two good sized spanners and put one on the bolt and interlock the other over your first (ring over the fork), this will give you a bit more leverage and might just be enough to free them.

 

[Ellis]

surley just a deep socket/extension and power bar/long handled ratchet?

 

[civicx3]

@elchunk... ive got the same bar but from a dc2 and compared to the eg its alot thicker so hoping to have a better turn in on the front end. Nice idea, il give the 2 spanner trick a go, sounds like itd give a better angle to put some force behind.

@ellis... i tried every tool i had to get it moving, its not getting on the bolt thats the problem, its having no room to move the ratchet because of the wheel arch lol nightmare!

what i should of done is look down in the engine bay! think the easiest way to get the drivers side off is with like 4 extension bars on the ratchet. The passanger side will be the bitch but il try the spanner trick and abit of heat tomorrow

 

[RacingXS]

@elchunk... ive got the same bar but from a dc2 and compared to the eg its alot thicker so hoping to have a better turn in on the front end.

This job is not worth the amount of time & effort it takes, because a) of the lack of access which makes it a ballache and b) you won't be able to tell the difference on the road once it's done anyway.

Wait until the engine has to come out for some reason or other then change it in 5 minutes.

 

[civicx3]

well ive been told by a few people that it makes a difference and for a few quid it was worth doing imo. im going to blame my stupidity on it being monday morning because after spending a hour on it today i changed them over

had to borrow a couple extensions and get to the bolts through the engine bay, didnt even cross my mind yesterday that id be able to remove the brace from the engine bay!


dc2 vs eg6

4 extensions!

drivers side

passanger side

on!

soon as the floods die down il go test it out, a boat would be better than a car for my roads at the moment!

 

[civicx3]

This job is not worth the amount of time & effort it takes, because a) of the lack of access which makes it a ballache and b) you won't be able to tell the difference on the road once it's done anyway.

Wait until the engine has to come out for some reason or other then change it in 5 minutes.

were you told it doesnt make a difference or actually did it to your car??

ive just been for a 20mile drive and the difference its made for a few quid and a hours work is EPIC! i havent got a amazing suspension set up to begin with so maybe thats why its made a big difference but to say you cant notice any difference is a LIE