7 replies to this topic

[Daniel_moody25]

Im taking out my engine stabiliser to change it for a nice dsn one but every time ive tried to take the bolt out where it connects to the firewall the nut come off the bottom but the bolt wont pull up out of the bush, any suggestions of how i can get the bolt out

 

cheers dan

[ToM 2012]

get angry  can you try to undo it while trying to put a wide chisel under the bolt head to price upwards? 

[waddle]

soak it then either try what tom said or just smack it out from underneath ,or grind the head off then it will fall off and be easyer to work with 

[dklawson]

Conduct the following visual check first.

 

I have no idea when it changed, but on the early cars, the part you are dealing with is not a bolt passing through a metal sleeve and the bushing.  On the early cars it is one piece with a cylindrical center section larger in diameter than the two threaded ends.  Use an inspection mirror to see if the bottom and top parts aren't nuts, not a nut and bolt head.  If you observe that they are two nuts, your only answer is to remove the bracket bolted to the firewall.  You will not be able to pound the part out.  If instead you confirm that it is a bolt, nut, and sleeve and you cannot budge it, you still may have to remove the top bracket and cut the old seized parts off.  Pounding may only serve to damage the lower part of the assembly that is welded to the firewall. 

[jime17]

If the bolt shank has seized to the bush insert levering upwards probably wont help. its awkward to get at from underneath to knock upwards. You might have to do what's been suggested and grind the top off and punch it through....

I can't remember if there is a clear line of sight path from underneath. Maybe if there is you could get it on ramps and get a long extension bar on the bolt end from underneath and knock it upwards.

[Daniel_moody25]

Oops forgot to follow the topic it's a 1990 mini so I'm pretty sure it's got a nut and bolt to hold it on, I want to try and save the bolt if I can so I'd rather not cut the head off but I'll try and have a go at getting at it from underneath or prying up on it

[ado15]

Just be careful you don't damage the brackets. The one welded to the bulkhead is prone to fracture at the best of times.

 

As others have suggested, the bolt will be rusted into the spacer tube. If all else fails, do as Doug suggests and get the top plate off. It will come away with the offending bolt still attached. At least you can then tackle it on the bench. But it's a right pain to get all the junk out of the way the get the plate off!

[Vipernoir]

Playing whackf*ck to get one of these out is not only very, very difficult with the bolt facing downwards (it is nigh on impossible to hit it upwards) but you also run the very real risk of damaging the bulkhead and the m/c bracket.

 

You probably won't be able to drill it out as the bolt very often gets rusted or fret-welded to the metal sleeve inside the bush.
Your best bet is to carefully cut between the bottom of the bush and the upper side of the bottom bracket, and then drill the head off the bolt.