So I just installed the driver side A-Spec.

Going good, moving on to the passenger side.

Got the LCA through bolt off. Good.

Now to the pinch bolt... snap. The bolt head snapped off.



Now what should I do? Any tips?

Thanks!

That just screwed over my day's plan of installing both front A-Specs.

 

what is the pinch bolt? can you take a pic from farther away?



dude, I havent even started on mine yet, and its 1241 here.
the shop closes at 4.....

*edit*

Hammer that piece out!!!!!!!!
there are no threads on it right? indicating that it will slip out with FORCE.

 

Ouch!!

Man that sucks. Looks like a stone cold bitch to "fix".

Maybe drill and tap. Or just replace the whole part - it's about $70 at the dealer.

 

There's threads on the end of it =(
(Meaning the whole bolt isn't threaded (which is good) but the end is threaded)

I DID not need this !

I don't think I wanna replace the whole part lol

I'm planning to:
1. Go to a hardware store and buy a replacement bolt for it.
2. Go to the dealer (which I'd have to wait until Monday), then order it and receive it on Tuesday.

 

so the piece that is stuck, has the threads?

awwww man.

 

Same thing happened to me while installing the coils. Had to run to the auto store to pick up a bolt

 

Yeah =(

How'd you get the old bolt out?

 

IIRC it is only threaded on the ends so you can try just knocking it out.

 

Yeah it is only threaded on the ends thank goodness.

Knocking it out?

Wouldn't that mess up the threading of the arm?

 

Hmm, I'm trying to remember how the arm is setup. This is the long lower bolt correct? To avoid this next time you can use a jack to support the bottom of the arm.

 

Man! Sorry to see that! I know how you feel, that would ruin my weekend...

 

buy an extractor kit..i bought mine at home depot for 20 bucks or so...it should work...i used that kit on a bolt that snapped in the head of my integra's engine.....worked like a charm

 

Nah that's the LCA through bolt you're talking about. I was able to get that bolt out (it's the supposed to be the "hard" bolt)

The bolt I snapped is the pinch bolt that grabs the bottom of the shock assembly.

Thanks man =)

I'll try that out thanks!

JUST AN UPDATE:
I put the LCA through bolt back on and put the wheel back on the car.
In the end I have to buy a new bolt, and I can't just leave my car lifted on one side like that until I get the new bolt.

I'm gonna do the rears tonight.

 

Sorry, GP. this project is turning out longer than expected.


and so is mine....

 

Yikes sorry OP!

 

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

 

You left your shocks there??? C'MON

 

My one shock LOL

I did the other 3 shocks at home.

I was so excited man.
I wasn't expecting to hear $65....

I left him a message on the phone right when I got home and realized its not in my trunk lol
After he finished my car I think he went out for dinner with the gf/wife.

I'll pick it up sometime soon lol

 

Glad everything worked out for you GP

 

Thanks buddy =)

I should have pictures of the full A-Spec setup soon maybe tommorow heheh

 

Glad you got it fixed.

 

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