Alignment/Parts Help Needed

[DJ_B_Easy]

Just picked my car up from my bi-annual alignment from Firestone. The toe on my rear passenger wheel is out of spec and they told me they could not adjust it because a bolt was seized in the control arm. They also said that normally they would just heat the bolt to loosen it up but since there is a rubber bushing in the vicinity they could not do this and the ENTIRE control arm needed to be replaced.

Now, Im clearly no expert on alignment but this sounds a bit fishy to me. As far as I can tell, they are referring to part numbers 55025D (bolt) and 55025BA (nut) in this diagram, with part number 55045E being the rubber bushing in question. I dont see any other bolts on the control arm at all.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/altima-cou ... _6624.html

Can anyone weigh in on this? I dont see how that particular bolt/nut has anything to do with adjusting the toe. Shouldnt all the adjustment take place at the other end of the control arm? Even if that is the case, there has to be another way to fix the problem without replacing the control arm itself? Am I completely not understanding the process?

[sx moneypit]

You are correct about that bolt, it has nothing to do with the alignment. The toe is adjusted at the 55226PA bolt and the camber is adjusted at the 55226P bolt.

[DJ_B_Easy]

OK, so it is possible they mean to replace the lateral link, part number 551BO? Why wouldnt they be able to cut out the bolt, eccentric, and nut rather than replace the entire part?

Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?

[DJ_B_Easy]

Just talked to my mechanic buddy across the street from my house. He told me why they cant cut the bolt out due to the eccentric. Looks like Im SOL and have to replace this part. Luckily we can do it in his garage and I wont have to pay out the A at Firestone.

Thanks for the input SX.