Releasing a seized bolt in a bushing

[@jptrainor]

Cut with reciprocating saw blade and get a new bolt. It doesn't take long if you just go straight to that as soon as you discover the bushing is seized to the bolt. The service manual may specify replacing the bolt anyways, so a new bolt is necessary to begin with if you like to do the job literally "by the book".

[@daddyhermanson9737]

If manufacturers would use $1 worth of grease or anti seize when assembling none of this would be necessary

[@Subfightr]

They don't give 2 shits about us though :( we aren't worth 1 worth of anything unless it's gonna make them $$$

[@b.v631]

@@Subfightr not even 3 shits

[@Subfightr]

@@Tuborgsefu actually, I don't give any shits anymore, as I've lost my entire large intestine due to colitis and now unknowingly shit into a bag that is taped to my stomach, where my intestine sticks through my body, sewn to my skin, and rests in the bag... Wish I would have died in operation.

[@Fatbodypyle]

​@@Subfightr wow. Sorry about that

[@josephherron7671]

I've been screaming that from the rooftops for YEARS!!!! They don't give a shit.

[@JimKBower]

Hats off to you sir! Your composure is remarkable let alone having the patience to show us how you worked through your PITA seized bushing bolt. Thanks for taking the time to share as they say, misery loves company and it's heartening to know you're not the only one wasting an afternoon on a cold concrete floor battling such a crusty competitor as a rusted bolt-bushing-sleeve.

[@danielebbeling4056]

I went through each and every frustrating step that you did. Our logic lined up exactly. After the battle? Success ! It builds (or exercises ) patience and endurance. It pays dividends in the long game,friend!

[@numberpirate]

Great idea on cutting the sleeve lengthwise. I have been working on cars and doing other maintenance things on buildings for about 20 years and my hands look like a models vs yours. You definitely have put some time in. Cheers!!!

[@TonedMars]

Had same issue with a shock bolt and bushing on my 81 Oldsmobile Omega, split the sleeve like you said worked great.

[@danielguerrieri1588]

I'm going to try the ball joint removal tool first

[@drmikeosgood]

the use of an impact hammer could do your job really good And help the process. Also, drill a small hole into the head of the leave and add penetrating fluid and let it set into the sleeve then use the impact hammer. Most times the nut breaks off the bolt!

[@joescott701]

Just ran in to this on the rear shocks of a 13 silverado. Wisconsin winters cause havoc on everything.

[@RussellYarnell]

Good video. Nice to see how slowly the rubber burns.

[@TC-zi2yp]

Re assemble all parts always with anti-seize.

[@zeache4564]

I'm struggling with a 7th gen accord lower control arm bolt, I'm going to try this method without the fire, thanks for the video man! 👍

[@justinziegler2248]

I'm dealing with an 03 lower control arm bolt. Same spot same problem, the metal sleeve is rusted to the bolt.

[@milenneshterov6765]

Hey im having the same problem , can you tell me how you eventualy got it out if you did ?

[@justinziegler2248]

@@milenneshterov6765 so what I did was cut all the controll arm off, then cut a square the size of a cell phone, out of the side of the frame, to put a 3/4 wrench on the nut behind it. If the wrench doesn't fit. You must cut the sides of the wrench down, do not cut above or below the welds on the frame.

[@justinziegler2248]

@@milenneshterov6765 call me if you don't understand that. 4847359542

[@Subfightr]

@@justinziegler2248 that's beautiful you would offer your phone number to help someone out. It must be a Justin thing.

[@paraglidingtalk]

Wow! what a pain. I have one that is jammed up like that right now on my jeep grand cherokee. Thanks for sharing this.

[@mikimiki195]

215k people watching this and hating the life. I just spent 4hrs on one bolt it’s F&@$ pain in the a$$ Great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@silenceondort1314]

In many situations I use a 7/8 or 1" metal hole saw drill down to the bushing sleeve. Then you can even weld a nut to the sleeve

[@rescuesda9395]

I ended up trying this and it worked lol thank you!

[@904will]

Crazy I always find u ❤😂❤ ill sub

[@backyardmech]

Nice - i'll take all the subs i can get 904Will !

[@gusdmh]

Hey there. That happened to me two years ago while changing the rear shocks of my 07 Niss Alt. One gave me trouble. The other the bolt head broke off. That’s seized!!! Ended up taking it to a mechanic. $200 later, I had me working shocks. So much for saving money as a DIY.

[@gusdmh]

PS. Mechanic did pretty much what you did. All with tools I don’t have. Including a lift.

[@vitolena329]

MY BUDDY TONY AND I LITERALLY JUST FINISHED THAT ONE HOUR AGO. STARTED SATURDAY AROUND 4ISH. WENT THROUGH 2 GRINDING WHEELS, 2 SAWZALL BLADES, TORCHING, AND SWEARING AT IT😂. WE ALSO BOUGHT BOLTS AT AUTOZONE AND HOME DEPOT. WORKED UNTIL 11P THEN TODAY HE PICKED ME UP AROUND 4PM. HAD THE CAR ON THE GROUND IN 2 HOURS. CRAZY THING IS, MINE IS A WINDSTAR TOO 😂🤣😂 SHOCKS ARE NEXT

[@PaulHenreid]

Bravo. Persistence paid off.

[@gainthesummit]

Listen to this man. Particularly at 1:20 , where he says "don't do this, and call your mechanic". trust me

[@sweet65mustang]

Just a quick question no one seems to have thought of. How do I get it out of I'm the mechanic?

[@thatsright2456]

@@sweet65mustang with a grinder haha

[@waynep343]

the Trick... tighten the Nut.. fairly tight.. loosen the bolt. now.. before you call me crazy.. with the Nut tight.. you have clamped the sleeve inside the bushing between the bracket faces.. turning the bolt slightly will usually bust it loose.. you may have to play with the tightness of the nut.. but eventually you will get it..

[@backyardmech]

That makes sense - i keep waiting to run into this issue again to try your method. Thanks Wayne !

[@ThisOldJalopy]

I'll try that tomorrow, thanks

[@calidatsun5049]

@@ThisOldJalopy did it work ?

[@ThisOldJalopy]

CALI DATSUN no, I need up cutting the shock off, giving me access to cut the bolt. That was after trying everything in the book, including welding the nut the the LCA

[@mrupholsteryman]

@@ThisOldJalopy I may end up using my Harbor Freight cut off wheel tool and freeing up all that stuff as well. I spent 2 hours and three tools trying to remove my 2016 Mazda rear lower shock absorber from the bolt attaching it to the knuckle. I was initially thinking I could put a pipe wrench on the left over parts after cutting off the shock absorber from the bushing....but if I can save the potential of the bolt from breaking off....I think I'll just stay with my whizzer wheel.

[@timothywinkelman7198]

Great video!!! I'm in the process now of trying to free a bolt from a bushing on my truck. It's the strut to lower control arm bolt that won't budge. I have the nut off and tried pounding it out, heating it up, and finally using a ball joint C clamp tool to push it out and it's fighting me every step of the way. I don't want to cut the struts fork cause the struts are still good but I'm losing patience cause it's been days of messing with this bolt. So much time wasted on this and thankfully I have my motorcycle to ride and go where I need to go. Thanks for this video and I'm gonna try melting that bushing out to get to that sleeve. For the life of me, why wouldn't the manufacturer use a dab of anti seize on these bolts-bushings??? Grrrrrrrr

[@backyardmech]

Thanks Tim - i hope you got that bushing lose !

[@calebwillhelm2635]

How tight should the sleeve be on the bolt. If the bolt is new

[@Laugh1ngboy]

Yeah sadly I am the mechanic. No metal sleeve just rubber holding on to a bolt in a bent bracket . Still burning out the rubber was not the idea I wanted to do but sounds like to one I need to.

[@jewsh519]

Hey so im doing my rear strut and the bottom bolt that goes thru the control arm is surrounded by a sleeve and rubber bushing or garment i snapped the head of the bolt used a sawzall to cut the strut not i got a 8th of a inch on one end and about 2inches on the nut end i got the nut off but the bolt is stuck in the rubber and it is not budging any ideas?

[@NWALedDisplay]

If you have a new bolt, can you cut then off inside each side of the mounting brackets?

[@joeeveryman2208]

I have an old sds hammer drill that the drive failed in, it has a hell of a hammer but no rotation so I ground one of the bits to a flat round end that could be used to drive out bolts like this. I've seen it kick a seized bolt I couldn't flog out, out of the workshop into the street.

[@backyardmech]

That's a great hack - thanks for sharing Joe !

[@rreeves0710]

thanks, did the same thing with the leaf spring bushing on my old 4 runner. Was about to just cut it off before I saw this!

[@tjjfitz]

I’m facing the same problem with a seized driver’s side, forward pivot bolt in the bushing of the lower control arm of my 1999 rear wheel drive Ford F-150 pickup. I’ve sprayed nearly a whole bottle of PB Blaster on both ends of the bolt (the nut came off easily), worked the bolt head with a 21 mm socket on a 3-foot, 1/2 inch-drive bar, threaded a stock metal rod through the empty rear pivot holes of the control arm (the rear bolt came out easily), held the end of the rod against the end of the seized bolt and swung a 2-pound hammer against the other end of the rod ‘til exhausted, bought an electric impact hammer from Harbor Freight and attached a 21 mm impact socket to the hammer and the head of the seized bolt and ran the impact hammer forward and reversed with generous additions of PB Blaster until it was obvious this wasn’t going to work. Unless I can cut away the outer metal sleeve of the bushing and cut and pry out the rubber, I may have to make the rubber go away with the heat wrench too. I think others who have posted on KZbin that impact and hammering aren’t successful because the rubber in the bushing is absorbing the impact are correct. The bolt is seized in the “anti-crush” sleeve, and that rubber just has to be gotten out of there to allow impact and penetrating fluid to do their good work. I enjoy the Canadian videos with their careful and articulate phrasing.

[@IGStrangDaKang]

Thomas Fitzsimmons im having the same problem with a lower control arm bolt on a 08 uplander..the long botl wont drop.i used propane,n pounded on the bolt from the top threw the engine bay still nothin..jus bought map gas gonna try that next

[@Subfightr]

@@IGStrangDaKang Im about to go buy map gas myself, did it help you get the bolt out? When I saw it was only 3 bolts holding the rear strut in... :( I knew it was too good to be true..

[@IGStrangDaKang]

Justin Lelbach nope map gas didnt work!!i cut threw the rubber bushing n could see the sleeve n bolt.pounded on it wit a sledgehammer still wouldnt drop!!got a metabo out n jus cut it off!!!it seem like the bolt was welded into the sleeve from all the pressure that the weight of the van was puttin on the bad control arm for so long idk it was weird..

[@TheOutwiththeold]

Yes this is why we make these videos and say clearly before you start this job have the new bolts available .and that's all you got to do is just cut it with saw don't waste your time for five dollar bolt ,specially on a Windstar

[@michaelwoodruffii1434]

I cut both sides with a sawzall and be done the bolt is no good replace it

[@justinziegler2248]

I burned all the rubber out of it and the sleeve is still rusted to the bolt. Ready to cut the bolt and put a new one in.

[@dannynica7480]

PEOPLE WRITE A LOT BS WITHOUT KNOWING THE SCENARIO. I had the same issue and it is the bolt seized to the middle metal part of the bushing IT is very hard to get that off

[@TralfazConstruction]

I just experienced this. My brother cut out both upper control arm bolts/bushings with an angle grinder. He, fortunately, had a selection of blade diameters in his kit. The inner sleeve and bolt _fused_ together over the course of twelve years and 187,000 miles. I looked at the cross sections on both bolt/bushing combos and it was remarkable. I cleaned one up to keep as a souvenir. The vehicle was purchased used and I knew going in that it was a retired airport limousine. The transmission, engine and all-wheel-drivetrain are sound so it was worth the money.

[@CameronDC-Grimes]

Thanks for the advise. I will warn ⚠️ anyone that torching a rubber bushing is extremely TOXIC and can cause serious health issues if you breath it in. But definitely a good video on how to effectively release a bolt from a seized bushing sleeve. I'm honestly trying to find a way to get the bolt out on my rear shocks without a torch, cutting tool or welder.

[@Subfightr]

"poison job" indeed. I went to remove my gfs rear strut and was like.. "holy shit only 3 bolts?! This is too good to be true"... Yep.. 400 bucks in an impact wrench and other nonsense and all I did was make some metal shavings and cause my ears to ring.

[@patonbike]

You could cut the bolt or try an impact if you can get it in there.

[@dannynica7480]

ahaaaaa let me ask you, If you cut the bolt how would you get the metal sleeve out??

[@jamie211983]

2 minute job with a 1mm cutting disc and a new bolt.

[@TralfazConstruction]

I agree with you. Don't forget a full face mask. My stepson and I ran into a similar situation. He'd bent two blades on his Sawzall before my brother brought over his disc grinder/cutter. The bolt/bushing combination had 12 years and 187,000 miles to fuse together on a used Yukon I recently bought.

[@AP-bo1if]

cutting disc works but only if you have room. otherwise you will have to use a sawzall and a long blade (carbide tipped). use the carbide tipped sawzall blade it's a 5 minute job. otherwise get ready to destroy lots of blades.

[@rvborgh]

@@AP-bo1if Diablo blade works well.

[@miket7390]

You can also try a ball joint press.

[@wiley0714]

Am...New 5.00 Bolt and A cut off wheel. Done....

[@renenowicki]

Dealer only bolt. Three days to get it. These assorted attempts are quicker than that.

[@Ελλάδοςπνεύμα]

I tried to negotiate this at home and spent a couple of hours heating, torching, hammering, cursing, cutting with angle grinder, and couldn't figure out also why it wouldn't come off. In the end I found it was cheaper to undo the whole rest of suspension and replace the subframe and buy new bolts and track arm.. what a bitch of a job.. If only there was an easy way to reach in and break that collar sleeve that prevents that damn bolt to come out.

[@backyardmech]

I agree - it is a rotten job for sure !

[@doncodman913]

Drill the ends off the bolt also is an option if you have cobalt drill bits ( tougher than HSS drill bits ) . Women and cars always are trouble.

[@raczyk]

Was that gap in the metal bushing part already there? Or did you make that using tools?

[@backyardmech]

It was already there Razz

[@telecasterman18]

Man dealing with a siezed bolt in sleeve on my front strut lower mount bolt. The bolt head is also seized on the attachment plate of the lower control arm. I can’t heat it because it’s too close to the CV boot. My sawzall doesn’t fit in the area I need. I soaked it with PB blaster for days. I’m thinking my only option is to get a Dremel cutting wheel and just cut the bolt out… I already bought a replacement bolt in preparation for this anyway because the threaded end of the bolt and the nut are starting to mushroom and strip the threads from me hitting it so hard. It should have been a 30 minute job. Good riddance.

[@MattJonesYT]

Trying to salvage the bolt is not the way to go since if it's rust welded together it's probably not a safe bolt any more. Much better is to just sawzall out the bolt on the sides with a carbide blade and use a new bolt.

[@abea4696]

That takes alot of patience.

[@iamawake6751]

Pretty clean shirt you got there, sir. Is it Versace?

[@backyardmech]

I believe that was a Tommy Hilfiger shirt Iam - I wear nothing but the cleanest most expensive shirts before crawling under a vehicle !

[@iamawake6751]

Hahahaha I was going to give you shit, but you have a sense of humor so jokes on me! lmao Kanye can't even afford that level of Tommy H....Myth, Man, Legend....The Backyard Mechanic!

[@backyardmech]

I'm just an ordinary legend Iam ! Thanks bud :)

[@narancs5]

Would be cool, but on mine I cant find a cut on the sleeve.

[@ezwa9979]

so wats the words ‘seized’ mEn?, does that mean this sleeve shrank or something?🤔

[@TheStrangeOne14]

The sleeve is made of mild steel and starts rusting from the inside. After enough time, the amount of rust on the inside of the sleeve expands enough to lock onto the bolt. ... I have a 2004 Sonata with both the rear lower control arm bolts seized solid. Gonna lower the sway bar and use a ball joint press to force them out. Luckily there's room.

[@raczyk]

Would heating the bolt work? I have the same situation. How would a mechanic fix this?

[@Subfightr]

Heating the bolt didn't do it for me, I even went out and purchased an impact with 1200 ft lbs of torque to remove it... Waste of money. I'm gonna cut the bastard off tomorrow. Did you manage to get yours off? If so, what did you do?

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

cut it out, then easier to remove whats left when you have it on the bench.

[@prosperandbehealthy]

*His hands are worse than the bushings* 🤔🤔😠

[@gerardjones7881]

Milwaukee hackzall will cut through that bolt ez, just get a new bolt.

[@juzdoitbtcrandom3717]

Daz ryt... even u have important meetin at 8am n its 2am in da morning already and its almost 2 hours drive reachin work bcoz of traffic! Juz call dem n tell dat u have seen diz comment to use sawzall which u have to purchase at home depot which is almost 1hour drive from ur place n dey open at 6am and waited 4 dat god damn part store to open up at 8am which ur not also sure if they have dat fuckin bolt dat u needed! Good idea

[@eizzle78]

I used a grinder with a cut off wheel, sawzall would be easier!

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Either a cutoff wheel or a recip saw would do the job very well.

[@nba3512]

I just used the milwaukee hackzall on a shock bolt today lol

[@michaelpeck5547]

Exactly what I'm doing on my boat trailer. Putting in a new blade and destroying crap tonight. ;-)

[@casperghost7298]

I was just helping my neighbor with a bushing with a seized bolt in it, it was hell getting out, had to beat it out and then punch it the rest of the way, it ruined the bolt though, so it has to be replaced

[@danielguerrieri1588]

Ball joint removal tool may have worked easier.

[@galuple]

Cape Bretoner?

[@backyardmech]

I am indeed a Caper Galuple !

[@skiraf]

I hope you didn't breath all those fumes

[@angelahighwolf]

I’m at the chisel and screwdriver point at the moment.

[@treydogg77]

Next time just use a grinder to cut each side of the bolt off. Make sure and wear heavy duty long gloves and safety goggles! 1/2hr Of work vs half a day!

[@rahdigs]

that's exactly what i did. so much faster!

[@joew8440]

I see what you did, and you did a good job. That’s a lot of work to save a bolt. Why didn’t you just cut the bolt on both sides of the bushing with a sawzall? Then replace the hardware.

[@Subfightr]

How would we remove the rest of the bolt though? The threads are still in the welded on but.

[@yaojohns9210]

@@Subfightr old comment but you're not meant to be able to extract the seized bolt from the bushing in this method. You cut the bolt at both ends, remove the control arm, and then choose to do one of two things. Buy a replacement bushing and use a press to remove the old bushing (bolt and all) from the control arm, or just replace the entire control arm, which is what most people do.

[@Subfightr]

@@yaojohns9210 damn. I don't have to worry about it now. I'm fucking disabled :( rip me doing stupid shit to save a $

[@Tore_Lund]

I fthis was the 1880' all bush inserts would be brass, so no seizing possible!

[@vinnyboombots8270]

I burned mine oat with no problem withoat burning the hoase down

[@JT-xf7ti]

Day two of trying to remove a bolt from a bushing on a golf cart A-Arm. What a nightmare. Going to buy a slide hammer and pry bars and a shim kit. Wish me luck.

[@JT-xf7ti]

Oh! And a bottle of never seize!

[@Subfightr]

That's an interesting idea, did it allow you to remove the he bolt from your bushing A-arm?

[@JT-xf7ti]

Justin Lelbach yes, the side hammer pulled it to about 1/2 out. (I borrowed one from Advanced Auto for free) then was able to get a good punch in there and nocked it out. I polished the bolt with a wire wheel and used never seize for reassembly.

[@550ronald]

why not not just use a grinder ?

[@lleresche]

Happened same thing to me, I think I will just cut the bushing in a Half with the seized screw, and Hammer the rest of the screw Out.

[@Subfightr]

That's exactly what I'm fittin to do. Your comment is 3 years old, hopefully you got that bolt out by now?

[@anthonyg.985]

Why u saying it u should take it to a mechanic as if he won’t do the same exact thing lol (I’m a mechanic)

[@shirleyg.1006]

Afterburning through several bushings, I now lite them as incense when I meditate next to my bhudda statue.

[@josephherron7671]

So in summary, do WHATEVER THE FUCK IT TAKES!!!!

[@LincolnSP150]

Personally, I would have welded it back together where it broke, much easier if a welder is available.

[@meins1043]

And smoke the bushing...

[@ddrod1]

PB Blaster is your friend

[@Subfightr]

Wasn't my friend in this my case.

[@danjim7056]

Think I'm just going to cut mine out.....I fucking hate seized bolts

[@alycestapleton]

Too funny indeed maybe because the whole underneath is rust or the whole car is . That cars is completely fucked bin it

[@nickonickster1]

Ueue

[@jimflynn238]

i what t save bushing.