Snapped damper fork pinch bolt...
Thread Starter
S.3.A
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
From: NH
Snapped damper fork pinch bolt...
So I attempted to install the A-Spec suspension today, and I ended up snapping the front driver side damper fork pinch bolt. 
That pretty much put an end to the attempt, so now I have to get it to a garage or to the dealer.
My question is, do you think it's safe to drive with the broken bolt?
The shaft is still in there good, I don't think it moved at all before it snapped. The dealer is about 5 minutes from my house highway driving. I'm thinking it'll be fine, but it's questionable to me.
Any advice? and does anybody know how much it would cost to get the bolt out? Thanks in advance.
That pretty much put an end to the attempt, so now I have to get it to a garage or to the dealer. My question is, do you think it's safe to drive with the broken bolt?
The shaft is still in there good, I don't think it moved at all before it snapped. The dealer is about 5 minutes from my house highway driving. I'm thinking it'll be fine, but it's questionable to me.
Any advice? and does anybody know how much it would cost to get the bolt out? Thanks in advance.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 598
Likes: 96
I'm fairly sure that setup is quite similar to how it is on my 02 Accord. I ended up snapping that bolt and drove around like that for months with no problems. Never even had any odd sounds. I ended up drilling it out and replacing it with a bolt and nut.
At least on the Accord, the shock really couldn't fall out unless you were jumping on the hub with that bolt out.
At least on the Accord, the shock really couldn't fall out unless you were jumping on the hub with that bolt out.
Same thing happened to me while installing my A-Spec suspension too lol
When I read the thread title I thought someone bumped my thread from the dead lmao
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-97/fml-pinch-bolt-snapped-off-837265/
When I read the thread title I thought someone bumped my thread from the dead lmao
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-97/fml-pinch-bolt-snapped-off-837265/
Last edited by guitarplayer16; Aug 20, 2012 at 09:40 PM.
Thread Starter
S.3.A
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
From: NH
Same thing happened to me while installing my A-Spec suspension too lol
When I read the thread title I thought someone bumped my thread from the dead lmao
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=837265
When I read the thread title I thought someone bumped my thread from the dead lmao
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=837265
Thread Starter
S.3.A
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
From: NH
Brought it to the dealer this morning and they said they'll have to take it all apart and then cut the damper fork so I'd have to get a new fork. They quoted me $367 parts and labor... 
should I try getting it out myself using one of those "easy out"? Or drill it out? Or just cut the fork and get a new one and put it on myself?
should I try getting it out myself using one of those "easy out"? Or drill it out? Or just cut the fork and get a new one and put it on myself?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 598
Likes: 96
The best resolution would be to remove it and replace it. It's probably a $100-200 part from a dealer, but if you can find a used one online or at a junkyard it might only be $20-50. It should be easy to replace yourself. Remove the lower bolt, push the hub assembly down, and it should have enough room to get it out. The only thing you would need is a new bolt from the dealer, which I would assume would need to be ordered. It's a semi-custom high grade bolt.
Drilling it out is definitely possible, but I wouldn't try and fix the threads, just bolt the backside. This method isn't quite as preferred, since anytime you take the car anyone, someone is going to notice this repair and complain about how its not safe. At least, thats what happened with my Accord. I'd try drilling it and see how it goes, but plan on finding a replacement.
Drilling it out is definitely possible, but I wouldn't try and fix the threads, just bolt the backside. This method isn't quite as preferred, since anytime you take the car anyone, someone is going to notice this repair and complain about how its not safe. At least, thats what happened with my Accord. I'd try drilling it and see how it goes, but plan on finding a replacement.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 208
Likes: 28
From: Thorold, ON
Same thing happened to me while installing my A-Spec suspension too lol
When I read the thread title I thought someone bumped my thread from the dead lmao
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=837265
When I read the thread title I thought someone bumped my thread from the dead lmao
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=837265
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Thread Starter
S.3.A
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
From: NH
Crazy! Exact same thing happened to me too. I attempted mine a few weeks ago. My mechanic buddy came by the next day and ended up getting the shock out with the fork attached. He ended up drilling out the bolt and replacing with a nut and a bolt. It was safe to drive around since the bolt was still threaded but I broke the head off very easily. All I could think was Epic Fail!! LOL
Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 45
I would drill it out and replace the fork, bolt, and use anti-seize on the new bolt. Cutting the bolt thru the slot might work too, and spreading the slot with a wedge shape tool/hammer to remove the shock.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 784
Likes: 119
From: willowbrook,il
He's talking about the pinch bolt that locks the damper base in the upper fork. Its a small/short bolt that threads into the fork. I don't think an air hammer would work.
I would drill it out and replace the fork, bolt, and use anti-seize on the new bolt. Cutting the bolt thru the slot might work too, and spreading the slot with a wedge shape tool/hammer to remove the shock.
I would drill it out and replace the fork, bolt, and use anti-seize on the new bolt. Cutting the bolt thru the slot might work too, and spreading the slot with a wedge shape tool/hammer to remove the shock.
I would try this before replacing fork.
Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 45
If it was a broken lower fork bolt/nut, it would be easy to remove. This is tricky because the fork is threaded, the bolt shaft locks the shock in place, and there's not much working room vs. the lower control arm area.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 208
Likes: 28
From: Thorold, ON
Do you know how he got the fork out with the shock still on it? I considered doing that and just buying a new fork and pinch bolt. It's cheaper than the $367 the dealer wants. But when I was looking at it, it didn't look possible to get the two out attached. Did your friend remove anything else to get them out?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 784
Likes: 119
From: willowbrook,il
Your referring to the lower bolt/nut for the fork to control arm bushing. The OP is talking about the pinch bolt that threads into the fork and locks the shock base to the fork. There is no nut in OEM form.
If it was a broken lower fork bolt/nut, it would be easy to remove. This is tricky because the fork is threaded, the bolt shaft locks the shock in place, and there's not much working room vs. the lower control arm area.
If it was a broken lower fork bolt/nut, it would be easy to remove. This is tricky because the fork is threaded, the bolt shaft locks the shock in place, and there's not much working room vs. the lower control arm area.
To be able to take the whole suspension out with the fork, you have to remove the axle which includes taking off the rotor, caliper, swinging aside the knuckle, spindle nut, etc.
My mechanic charged me 60 bucks for the whole job - especially since I was helping him AND he removed everything within 30 minutes.
My mechanic charged me 60 bucks for the whole job - especially since I was helping him AND he removed everything within 30 minutes.
Just wanted to bump this thread to let everyone who helped me out (and those who didn't lol) that I'm now on all 4 A-Specs.
I took it to a local shop who's new in town and had the owner Dustin work on it.
He told me right away that everything was coming off to get the shock out.
So he took off my calipers, my rotors, slid the knuckle out of the way, removed the axle piece? and took my shock out.
All this he did in like 20 minutes; truely amazing.
Then he had me use the acetylen/oxygen torch to heat the pinch while he hammered the old pinch bolt out on the vice.
Now that nasty bugger is out, he removed the fork from the old shock and drilled the hole and everything to 3/8. Then we used my bolts and nuts that I bought from Home Depot and mounted the fork and new A-Spec using the "through-bolt" design, using locktite.
Then he assembled everything back together, axles in, spindle nut, rotors, brakes, knuckle, etc.
Then he had the courtesy to check my torque specs on all my other suspension.
Came in at 5. Everything was done at 6:30.
He charged me for an hour since I helped him (soooo great and learned so much!!!).
Came to $65 (cheaper than buying a new fork mount for $90 from my dealer and waiting for the back-order in which would have been mid-december).
Also cheaper than buying a fork mount from the states from OEMAcuraparts because shipping the $50 thing would have costed $30 extra and the 2 week long wait to arrive.
Cheaper than the $90/hour rate at dealers and the dealers would have taken like 3 hours+!
Best mechanic I've ever been to. Learned and watched and helped him do everything.
He knew knew his stuff so well and his dad builds chevy engines!
I forgot my damn old shock there though lol
I took it to a local shop who's new in town and had the owner Dustin work on it.
He told me right away that everything was coming off to get the shock out.
So he took off my calipers, my rotors, slid the knuckle out of the way, removed the axle piece? and took my shock out.
All this he did in like 20 minutes; truely amazing.
Then he had me use the acetylen/oxygen torch to heat the pinch while he hammered the old pinch bolt out on the vice.
Now that nasty bugger is out, he removed the fork from the old shock and drilled the hole and everything to 3/8. Then we used my bolts and nuts that I bought from Home Depot and mounted the fork and new A-Spec using the "through-bolt" design, using locktite.
Then he assembled everything back together, axles in, spindle nut, rotors, brakes, knuckle, etc.
Then he had the courtesy to check my torque specs on all my other suspension.
Came in at 5. Everything was done at 6:30.
He charged me for an hour since I helped him (soooo great and learned so much!!!).
Came to $65 (cheaper than buying a new fork mount for $90 from my dealer and waiting for the back-order in which would have been mid-december).
Also cheaper than buying a fork mount from the states from OEMAcuraparts because shipping the $50 thing would have costed $30 extra and the 2 week long wait to arrive.
Cheaper than the $90/hour rate at dealers and the dealers would have taken like 3 hours+!
Best mechanic I've ever been to. Learned and watched and helped him do everything.
He knew knew his stuff so well and his dad builds chevy engines!
I forgot my damn old shock there though lol
Cruisin'
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Chi-Town
I've dealt with this problem when installing coilovers on my 04 TSX. I tried the suggested flute extractor method (drill a hole, tap the hole with the flute extractor, and turn with a wrench). That did not. My friend suggested using a Dremel tool with a cut-off wheel to go between the space in the pinch fork. Worked like a charm: cut through the bolt and popped off the fork. I definitely suggest this method for anyone facing this issue.
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