2G rear lower arm

[VETTE_50_TH]

I have two bad rear balljoints on the rear lateral arms of my project 2g eclipse. I need to get them replaced. But, i can purchase all new arms for $95. Here's the problem. I cant seem to get the bolt that goes through the arm on the frame side out. Is there are trick to getting it out?

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James

 

[psycho]

I have never had those arms come out easy. I have always had to cut the bolt and remove it that way.

BTW, if you plan on cutting it out, cut on the side where the head of the bolt is. Cut in between the arm and the frame secition.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

I have never had those arms come out easy. I have always had to cut the bolt and remove it that way.

BTW, if you plan on cutting it out, cut on the side where the head of the bolt is. Cut in between the arm and the frame secition.

Yea, i talked to my friend today about it, and he said thats what you gotta do. Seems stupid for mitsu to design a car that requires that. Also, what did you use to cut it? Just a saw zaw? Dremel?

James

 

[draculia]

Extremely surprisingly, mine came out easy. I had to cut one of the trailing arms apart though since the bolt was frozen. They're not designed by Mitsu to be cut out, its just that they're frozen in there. It happens on all cars. What's stupid of Mitsu is installing the rear lower control arm bolt with the head facing the gas tank so that you either cut the head off or drop the tank to get the bolt out. That pissed me off, especially since the bolt is no longer made.

 

[psycho]

Yea, i talked to my friend today about it, and he said thats what you gotta do. Seems stupid for mitsu to design a car that requires that. Also, what did you use to cut it? Just a saw zaw? Dremel?

James

I used an angle grinder with a cut-off disc. Harbor freight has them really cheap if you don't have a friend with one.

Also, for preventative maintenance, slop some anti-seize on the new bolt before you re-install it.

 

[RonJeremY]

You have to drop the subframe, and it's pretty easy after that. Just pound it out. IIRC, I had to loosen the opposite side and completely drop the side the control arms were on to get that bolt out, sliding it along the gas tank shield. I then reattached that side and dropped the other to get them all without dropping all four subframe mounts at the same time. HOpe that helps/makes sense.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

I used an angle grinder with a cut-off disc. Harbor freight has them really cheap if you don't have a friend with one.

Also, for preventative maintenance, slop some anti-seize on the new bolt before you re-install it.

Sounds good. Thanks!

James

 

[draculia]

You have to drop the subframe, and it's pretty easy after that. Just pound it out. IIRC, I had to loosen the opposite side and completely drop the side the control arms were on to get that bolt out, sliding it along the gas tank shield. I then reattached that side and dropped the other to get them all without dropping all four subframe mounts at the same time. HOpe that helps/makes sense.

That's for the lower control arms, he's pulling the two arms, the ones with the balljoints all the way towards the rear.

You could try torching them, hammering on it, trying to turn it back and forth, hammering, torching, etc etc. I was able to get some from another car off that way, but instead of torching it was penetrating oil.

Also to the OP, you'll have to order those bolts from Mitsu if you destroy them, as they're not regular bolts. Also, from looking at the pics, my bolts were installed the opposite way on mine, the bolt head facing the rear of the car.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Both sides of mine were face forward not backward. I'm gonna order a new one though anyway.

James