Suspension Nightmare please help!!!

[hazer396]

Allow me to introduce myself. first..
hazer396, was a big 240-head, ended up buying a Pontiac G8 and now a big muscle head hehe lol

My cousin had a 2.5s altima coupe which i worked on quite often, now thats gone and the boomerang came back with befriending a person with a 3.5...

NOW BACK ON TOPIC!
I'm installing H&R Springs with KYB Shocks/Struts and the front was a piece of cake like most cars.. lol
and the back... well this happened..


first we were doing the drivers side and thought it happend by accident, but with my luck it happend on the passenger side too even by doing it super gently!

So any suggestions on how i could pull out the bolt? tried a bolt extractor and everything... so pissed!!


someone please help!!

[funkee]

Can you explain what the problem is? Or what we should be looking at in the picture? It's not immediately evident.

[hazer396]

Sorry!! it was late night i was half dead from doing this...

the head for the bolt ripped off and the bolt is stuck in the bushing.

[MetallicSlate]

The easy way would be get one of those drill bits that digs a hole into the bolt thread and try and reverse it out with one of those bolt out bits.

The hard way would be getting a hammer and hole punch and trying to punch it out, but that would involve re-threading the inside of the bushing with a tap and die kit.

Its not going to be too terribly easy either way.

[funkee]

I agree with MetallicSlate about drilling. I don't suggest trying to hammer it out at first, if the thread is okay for now. Rethreading it later won't be reliable.

Drill into the bolt with a screw extractor drill bit to so you don't have to replace the bushing. They cost $5-$10 a set. And you just need two or three size drill bits for the job.

If you have some Liquid Wrench or WD-40, spray the lubricant onto the bushing and bolt.

Then start with the smallest diameter bolt-out drill bit first (important if the first attempt doesn't work). Drill it in, and see if you can reverse it out normally.

If that fails, take a larger diameter drill bit. Then put the strongest locktite ($5) onto the bit before you drill into the bolt. Then let it cure for a few hours (or however long it says on the instructions). Then reverse it out. (You can also try the locktite on your first drill bit if you prefer.)

I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work, unless the threading in the bushing itself is busted. If so, hammer away.

[hazer396]

Yeah my mechanic came over to look at it today,
we tried everything, the bushing has no threads. its just glued shut in there from time and heat
getting it pressed out in the morning going to get a set of bushings as well.. any suggestions?

[GrayCoupe]

Which KYB struts did he use on his Altima Coupe, I've been searching but KYB only sell the rear shocks and the front for the Altima Sedan.

Thanks

[DJ_B_Easy]

OP did you ever get this sorted out? Same exact thing happened to my driver side. You are right about the bushing not being threaded, its metal encased in rubber and that bolt is so unbelievably seized its not even funny. Blow torch, vice wrench, I even broke a C-clamp just trying to press the damn bolt or entire bushing out. I actually ended up drilling around the outside of the rubber bushing closest to the control arm and ripping the whole thing out.

So, did you get the new bushing in? How difficult was that? I dont have a press, but Im not sure I will need one?

[DJ_B_Easy]

OP did you ever get this sorted out? Same exact thing happened to my driver side. You are right about the bushing not being threaded, its metal encased in rubber and that bolt is so unbelievably seized its not even funny. Blow torch, vice wrench, I even broke a C-clamp just trying to press the damn bolt or entire bushing out. I actually ended up drilling around the outside of the rubber bushing closest to the control arm and ripping the whole thing out.

So, did you get the new bushing in? How difficult was that? I dont have a press, but Im not sure I will need one?

[DJ_B_Easy]

OK so I finally got mine fixed, figured I would post up in case it happens to anyone else.

This is what a new bushing in question looks like:



This is what the seized bolt/bushing in question looks like after I've had my way with it:



You can see I basically drilled around the entire metal center, through all of the rubber. When that was weakened enough, I got a hold of it with some vice grips and ripped it out. Then I was left with the outer metal sleeve still completely seized into the control arm. To get that out I bought a small "finger" hacksaw that would fit through the center of the now empty bushing, cut a few channels into the outer metal sleeve, and then used a screwdriver to hammer out the little piece on the right in the pic. Once that little piece was out the whole thing was weakened and the rest of it came out with one swing of the hammer.

To get the new bushing in I filed out the control arm a bit to smooth out any grooves I made with the saw and make a bit more room. Then pop it in, give it a couple wacks with the hammer to get it seated. Once it wasnt moving any more by hitting it in the center because the rubber was absorbing all of the force, I used a wrench that fit over the center metal sleeve but still contacted the outer metal sleeve and beat the crap out of it with the hammer again. Voila...

[MetallicSlate]

You're a violent person aren't you?

[DJ_B_Easy]

LOL! Only when I need to be. Im telling you this would have driven anyone absolutely mad.

[DiamondWVU]

Same exact thing happened to me when I installed my coils. Took forever. Glad you got it fixed

[hazmatmjo]

Any idea what the part number is for these bushings?
I contacted various Nissan suppliers and none of them can tell me where to get this part. The only part they have is 56218, which is just the rubber grommet. It does not have the steel sleeve and spacer.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Well, in this diagam:

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

56218 is in the proper location, but the picture that it pulls up when you click on the part is incorrect and the price isnt in the ballpark either.
56219 is NOT in the proper location, but that number sounds more familiar and the price is more on par with what I remember paying for it.

I got mine from my local dealership. Maybe print pics from this thread and bring it to them? They told me that you could not simply buy the rubber bushing (you wouldnt be able to install it on its own anyway). All comes in one piece like this:

[hazmatmjo]

yeah...called courtesy and they wanted to sell me the 56218 number...I had them check and it is just a rubber piece, and therefore not the correct part.
They did not have any of the 56219 in stock, so they could not look at it to see if it was the correct part.
Thanks...will keep looking.

[hazmatmjo]

Well...I went ahead and had the local dealership order the 56219-JA00A...We will see if it is the correct one when it gets here in a couple of days. Price was $10.92 each.
I really can't believe that this part is so hard to get. I would guess that the shocks on these cars is a common replacement, and the bolt seizing in the tube is common too.

[DJ_B_Easy]

I think its more a matter of people not replacing it themselves. Delaership tells them the bushing is seized, and the entire control arm needs to be replaced. I would assume the bushing is already present in a complete control arm.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[hazer396]

agh sorry for never replying!!

did get the car done that next day! KYB Excel G or something?? got the whole set from rockauto

car sits soooo nice with H&R Springs!!
pics!







and my G

[hazmatmjo]

Well...I went ahead and had the local dealership order the 56219-JA00A...We will see if it is the correct one when it gets here in a couple of days. Price was $10.92 each.
I really can't believe that this part is so hard to get. I would guess that the shocks on these cars is a common replacement, and the bolt seizing in the tube is common too.

So, I got the bushings on Friday. The 56219 number is correct.
Basically followed your lead and did the exact same thing as you except I drilled the rubber in multiple places and then used a rotozip tool to cut the rubber out between the drilled spots. I also used the rotozip to cut thru the remaining metal that was left in the knuckle. The bushing replacement was a PITA!! to say the least, but it is done.

Thanks for the write-up. It was very helpful.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Glad you got it sorted. I bet that zip tool saved you a ton of time, I didnt even think of using one. I was down there with the little finger hacksaw for quite a while.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Bumping just to get a fresh URL after keyword search.

[el_blacky06]

I'm gonna have to buy a 12 pack if this happens to me when I install the rear shocks

[mjpaltima08]

I changed the rear shocks this weekend....80k miles on the originals....what a horrible experience. Both of the bolts heads snapped off and I had to drill out the rubber part of the bushing then take a finger saw like was described above to cut the metal sleeve out. I could not get the new bushing pounded in, so I ended up disconnecting the steering knuckle on both sides and taking apart the parking drum brake, then go to a friends house and use a hydraulic press to get the new bushings pressed in...what a pain..a process that should take less than 1.5 hours took almost 9 hours...I put a crap ton of anti seize and torqued down to factory specs after getting new bolts from the dealer. I think every time I rotate the tires I am going to take the shock bolt out and add anti seize again and re torque. Hopefully I can avoid this headache in another 5 or 6 years.

What a crappy design! Why cant nissan have designed these shocks with the bushing in them like most other cars instead of having the bushing in the knuckle!!!! Time to do the fronts this coming weekend..I got all new hardware for the front so If i break a bolt off I will be good to go.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Wow cant believe you needed a press. Did you try what I described above with the wrench over the bolt stem?

Front will not be as bad, just be careful with the bolts at the top of the strut tower. They strip VERY easily. Make sure you break the nut on the top of the strut itself loose before loosening anything else as well.

[BillyCuth]

Wow cant believe you needed a press. Did you try what I described above with the wrench over the bolt stem?

Front will not be as bad, just be careful with the bolts at the top of the strut tower. They strip VERY easily. Make sure you break the nut on the top of the strut itself loose before loosening anything else as well.

So bumping an oldie but a goodie!

Guys this exact thing has happened to me over the weekend, only instead of the head snapping off, the rubber just broke down to the point that when I apply torque to the bolt, the rubber inside the bushing twists (the bolt does move inside the threads on the other end, but it is seized inside the bushing).

I can't afford to be without my car, so I just put it back together with 1 old shock (after having replaced the other rear shock and both front struts).

I am going to attempt to cut out the old shock, then drill out the rubber of the bushing as described above. Then I will hacksaw out the old bushing sleeve.

I am wondering if I rented a bushing tool if I could press in the new bushing with little trouble.

The other problem I am having is the part number. I think 56219-JA00A will work, but I am just not sure because I cannot find a picture. I have a 2007 sedan, not coupe - but the suspension components in question are damn near identical.

I also found 56218+A which looks to be the same part... Any thoughts/ideas?

http://www.courtesyparts.com/56218a-bus ... oppingcart

[Mikekn]

2007 and the 2008 coupe suspension looks like they're the same parts for the knuckle.

The way I removed mine was to cut off a piece of the lower shock, so I could pull the bolt, sleeve and rubber part out.
I then put a bolt through a socket that is slightly larger than the bushing, inserted the bolt through the bushing and put a thick washer that's slightly smaller than the diameter of the bushing and a nut on the end. This acted as a press when I tightened the bolt.

An impact wrench might be the simplest way to get the rubber and bolt sleeve to separate.
Nowadays, you don't need to buy a compressor and air tools, just buy a decent battery operated one.
I have a Dewalt 20 volt 1/2" drive impact wrench with lithium-ion batteries that puts out 400 foot pounds of torque.
Though I have a compressor and air tools, I prefer using the Dewalt.

[nitro444]

Same problem happened to me i had much worst luck tho my Bolt actually bonded onto the bushing now im searching for the bushing so i could buy it were can i buy it? and the bolt?

[wavbyby]

Hate to bump an old thread but the same thing just happened to me tonight and I also need the bolt and bushing. Everywhere I look I cannot find that particular one, is it 56219? I would PM nitro444 but didn't see how :-/

Thanks for any help

[SniperJoe]

2008 Altima Coupe:

Just did my rear shocks after completing a front strut replacement ... what should have been a 15-20 minute job turned into two weeks (mostly waiting for parts).

When I tried to loosen the rear shock bolt, it would not come out. I did the usual spray with penetrating lubricant, applied heat, etc ... nothing worked. I put away the impact wrench and went with the old fashioned breaker bar determined to break it loose or just break it in general. All I succeeded in doing was turning it so hard I broke the rubber shock mount to pieces, but the bolt refused to come out.

I decided to just re-torque the bolt & ordered the parts I suspected that I would need once I attacked this again. About two weeks later with parts in hand I tried one last time with penetrating lubricant, an impact wrench & heat ... Not budging. Got my angle grinder with a cutting disk, cut off the lower shock bracket & extracted the bolt with part of the rubber bushing attached.

Now to get the other half out of the suspension member. I got a narrow chisel & chiseled away the rubber until I got to the metal ring that surrounds the insert. I then used files, a half round on edge and a triangle file to carefully file a groove in the insert in two places. Then using a screwdriver I pried away the narrow piece & then removed the remainder of the insert.

After cleaning out the area I got the new insert, coated it with anti-seize and using a large socket as a drift I tapped/hammered it into place.

All this may sound easy; it was & was not ... just take your time.

Here's a pic of the shock & parts I removed:



I also replaced the bolts with Nissan Part # 56280-JA00C ... the busing was Nissan Part # 56219-JA00A - pics of the busing ... I did not photo the bolt:








Hope this info helps some of you ....