Scirocco owner in need

[ellzilcho]

I have encountered a rather annoying poroblem whilst trying to remove the lower strut brace on the rear suspension, where it joins the axle beam. The reason i need to replace the axle beam was due to a dissagrement i had with a tree where it got severly bent. due to the bending of the beam the bolt running through the lower suspension strut has bent inside the housing and cannot be removed i have even angle ground the head of the bolt to try and knock it through the other way can anyone suggest a way to free it? i have literally tried everything i can think of.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Nate]

can't picture it - any chance of a photo?

[Old Mac Rocco]

There may be enough room to get a hacksaw blade in between the shock and the beam it is connected to.
It should only take the time it takes to cut through a 10mm bolt.
You may need to cut both sides.
I'm assuming it is the bolt that holds the shock onto the beam.
I'll check today and see if it is possible to get into.

[Old Mac Rocco]

It is not the best pic in the world but is it number 44 you can't get out??

I tried it today and there is enough room to get a hacksaw blade through.
You can then reconnect the blade to the hacksaw or wrap a rag round it to protect your hand.
You may have to cut through the bolt twice to get it clear.
The replacement is a M10 x 70 with a M10 nylock.

[Nate]

if that is the bolt, use a decent size punch (10mm or just shy) and the biggest hammer you can find. would have thought it's more likely to be rusted. have you tried haveing a good swin on both ends with a breaker bar to get the bolt to spin round?

[Funky Diver]

He's chopped the head of hte bolt off Nate...

My suggestion would be the same as old man's... hacksaw it. I had to do the self same thing on mine last time I changed them.
I take it you're dropping the sub-frame? If so, are you doing this on the car? I'd be getting it dropped and having a go once it's out in all fairness.

[Jay4424]

when they've been fully sezied on my roccos if got a wafer thin angle grinding (CUTTING) disk and carefully cut up from underneith either side of the lower mounting for the strut, inside of the holding part of the axil... if that makes sence!

...then the only trouble is getting the bolt out of the sturt (if you reusing it) ...lots of easing oil and you'll have to press it out, when John did his the penertrating fluid only penertrated about 3mm from either side. the ruber had just got hold of the bolt and wouldn't give up!


id consider replaceing the strut my self, unless its known to be fairly new.


Jay.

....lower strut brace? you mean arb? or have i got the total wrong end of teh stick/axil?!?

[Old Mac Rocco]

5 minutes today and job done.
I was lucky as the beam is OFF the car so it made it a hell of a lot easier.
Had to cut twice to get it clear.
Good Luck.

[mark1gls]

Might be worth putting some copper grease/anti seize on the bolt where it fits through the shock but not on the end where the nut fits, stops it rusting and makes it alot easier to remove next time.

[Nate]

Might be worth putting some copper grease/anti seize on the bolt

always worth doing, particularly if you're likely to be the next person to dismantle it. hand me the copperslip and a large spoon.