Help with suspension problem

[gamma500]

My car is a 95 GSX...how do you remove the rear lower control arm inner bolt which connects the inboard control arm/bushing to the subframe ? It exits towards the front where there is no clearance beyond an 1 1/2" and the bolt is a good 4 1/2" long. Is cutting the bolt head off the only way to remove ?

THX,
Craig

 

[wret]

Which arm?

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[jtmcinder]

He's probably talking about the lower lateral arm (5), since he mentioned the long bolt. Yes, you will probably end up cutting it. No way to do it easily on a rust-welded 95. You can try heat and such, but don't waste too much time on this.

Sawzall > air wrench

- Jtoby

 

[gamma500]

Yes, #5, not the toe arm or trailing arm fore and aft of it. My car has enjoyed the sunny South its whole life and I am able to remove the bolts with no problem after a bit of PB Blaster and a cheater bar. My main concern was the fact that, even with the nut off the long bolt and the bolt sliding out easily, there just is no room for removal to the front before it is blocked by the chassis. If the bolt went in from the rear, no problemo which is the way it will go back together with a new hardened bolt since I see no way to remove the original except to 1) cut off head and push rearwards, or 2) unbolt the whole subframe and raise body so bolt clears, a bit much. This is exactly what my Audi does..assemble the suspension subframe with the bolts going through control arms so when it is attached to the body, there is inadequate clearance to remove most of them. Again if the bolt was put in from the other direction which makes no difference from an engineering point of view, removal would be a snap.

I was just curious if someone had noticed this bolt placement problem or if some of these cars had the bolt put in the "correct" way.

Craig

 

[gamma500]

FWIW, My EVO 8 pic doesn't match the GSX info but couldn't get the GSX's picture small enough. Actually drive and enjoy the old girl more so than the newer, twitchier EVO with her AMS stoker motor. Are about equal in quickness to 80 mph since the notchy 6-speed takes up more time shifting. If the EVO is cold, the Eclipse beats her since the Exedy twin carbon clutch on the EVO slips like a mother for the first 3-4 full boost pulls until she heats up. MPG..23 average for GSX, 18.5 for EVO in mixed city/highway, semi-spirited driving. GSX has a decent turbo, DSMlink vs 8's AEM, and a water/meth system so she hits 25 psi with no knock and timing retard///lifts her nose quite respectively at WOT in 2nd and 3rd.

Not really much difference in braking to my way of thinking, even with all the touting of the Brembo's on the 8, unless multiple hard stops which show my GSX's greater fade tendencies.

Handling...the 8 has the TEIN coilovers and the GSX, Koni/AGX coilovers...the GSX sticks good, more predictable slide while the 8 handles like a go-kart, needs a lot of steering input, and breaks loose rather abruptly at speed levels which don't give much time for thoughtful reaction. Fortunately, those speed levels are far above what is needed for fun on the street or to match what usually challenges it.

Above has nothing to do with my original post but thought would be of some interest to you folks who were nice enough to respond.

Craig