When replacing LCA bushings go bad...

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:05 pm

Refer to my thread in the Suspension forums about my story...

Here are the pictures:

The rear bolt for my driver's side LCA decided to break the nut inside the car... This required a whole to be made to access it.

Heating the bolt up to get it out the rest of the way...

A very scary sight... But amusing.

After we finally got the bolt out.

Passenger side all back together... Ball joints were replaced too.

Just a shot of the Neon all broken up on the lift.

The hole that we had to cut to access the nut.

Joe welding the nut and plate into place... Permanently.

The part he cut out getting welding back into place after the LCA bolt went back in.

All undercoated and ready to be put back together! We didn't grind down the welds anymore than that because I ran out of time and have to just get the job done. The wheel will hide it anyway.

Never again will I do LCAs on a Neon. It went from a 4 hour job to a 10 hour job. I can't bitch though because mad props go out to my buddy Joe and his Uncle Thom for doing most (99%) of the work and providing all of the tools, the garage and the lift.

JeremyJ · Post by **JeremyJ** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:38 pm

Damn good thing you had a lift. What a headache.

Boyscoutgonebad · Post by **Boyscoutgonebad** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:06 pm

looks like a pain in the ass, glad you got it taken care off, I think i'm going to start soaking it in penetrating oil for a couple months before I try this. I can only imagine what my 2001 is going to be like.

Mopar00Neon · Post by **Mopar00Neon** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:19 pm

Sure makes me glad I live in CA. My car is 9 years old, and there is no rust under it.

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:21 pm

Looks good and glad u got her done. By the way be sure to re-torque the bolt after a week or so after the bushing breaks in a lil bit u dont need any clunking.

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:58 pm

JeremyJ wrote:Damn good thing you had a lift. What a headache.

Yeah, I'm definitely thanking my lucky stars that I made friends with Joe.

Him and his uncle were a HUGE help. Without them, I'd be riding on shitty LCA bushings with a f*cked up alignment for a long time.

Boyscoutgonebad wrote:looks like a pain in the ass, glad you got it taken care off, I think i'm going to start soaking it in penetrating oil for a couple months before I try this. I can only imagine what my 2001 is going to be like.

Yeah, soaking them in advance should help, but a lot of the problems in the big bolts were dirt and rust particles. I wish you a crazy amount of luck when it comes to doing your '01.

Mopar00Neon wrote:Sure makes me glad I live in CA. My car is 9 years old, and there is no rust under it.

lilnicko11 · Post by **lilnicko11** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:21 am

looks like u had quite the process. hows ur tie rod?? looked a lil rusty??

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:27 am

lilnicko11 wrote:looks like u had quite the process. hows ur tie rod?? looked a lil rusty??

Tie rod ends were replaced about 6 months ago.

ragek23 · Post by **ragek23** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:13 am

It seems I am very lucky mine came off with the impact.

At least its over with now tho.

OneDvsDime · Post by **OneDvsDime** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:58 pm

03sxt wrote:
lilnicko11 wrote:looks like u had quite the process. hows ur tie rod?? looked a lil rusty??
Tie rod ends were replaced about 6 months ago.

Yeah the tie rods I did around October, That's the first thing we both noticed about them, they rusted and looked horrible quite fast but it's all good now..

On another note, I need another haircut lol

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:31 am

I remember doing mine last year. Was a PITA, it was fun burinng the old bushings out though! You get the Prothane replacement ones?

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:08 am

MyNeonSaysHi wrote:You get the Prothane replacement ones?

Sure did! From Modern...

flhmfd · Post by **flhmfd** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:51 am

at least he did a good job...i would never have bothered welding that piece back in lol.

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:55 pm

flhmfd wrote:at least he did a good job...i would never have bothered welding that piece back in lol.

01rtgurl · Post by **01rtgurl** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:26 pm

Daaaamn, that sucks. Glad my 01 came apart easily. It's seen every winter since 01, lol.

OneDvsDime · Post by **OneDvsDime** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:26 pm

yeah, I think if it wouldn't have been welded back in, and I didn't undercoat it, it would have eventually rusted the bolt to the car permanently, who ever buys this car and does the bushings again, will have it easy lol