kwikslvr

I was in the middle of installing new springs on my car last night and the end of the front right lower control arm bolt just broke off. i know normally you shouldn't have to touch these to install springs, but because i already had lowering springs on the car and am simply switching from sprint to tanabe, i needed more play in my suspension to be able to work. so after getting the new springs on and everything in place, i went about putting the nuts and bolts back on and got to this one. i cannot get the nut to thread for the life of me, seriously spent about an hour trying.

question is has anyone ever replaced one of these? it looks like a pain in the a$$. do i just beat it out with a hammer and put a new one in or is it more involved than that?

thanks in advance for your help!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Which bolt?

kwikslvr

its number 19 on this diagram

its the lower control arm / camber bolt

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

You broke that bolt? Is it just stripped out? Or did you strip out the other end>

You can buy a new bolt if it's stripped ( about $10)..the other end is a bit more involved

kwikslvr

the end of the bolt (the end with the threads) a piece broke off, so now the nut will not thread onto it.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Have a look at the front cross member...I can't remember if it is a big nut with a retaining tab...or if it's welded on

If it is a nut...you can spread the tabs and put in a new one..otherwise you would need to carefully drill out the bolt end without screwing up the threads....

Can you pop up a picture so we can see how much broke off???

kwikslvr

the nut seems fine, its the end of the bolt that broke off. i am trying to find a new one and no one has it. mazda has to order it.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Buy a new camber bolt and nut, not that expensive even at MSRP from a dealer

on a full bolt the end tip has a taper to allow the nut to easily start

be sure to put anti-seize on the threads before installing it, Dan can tell you why ....

It's a loose nut, has to be for the camber adjustment. I assumed the broken piece was in the nut. If there is enough of the bolt left you can try and grind a taper on the end. You may need a tap and die to clean up the threads on both parts. Maybe not, but it would help.
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kwikslvr

yeah part of that taper broke off and took a couple threads with it. i was just wondering if this was hard to replace tho. i saw on another forum that it can become seized to the bushing.

kwikslvr

so i read a little about this online. i think that if i file down the end of the bolt where it is damaged i may be able to get the bolt on. i'll try that later tonight when i get off work

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Worth a try..but the bolts are cheap enough.

You are lucky it wasn't seized..that is a job

kwikslvr

im not sure if the bolt is seized or not, i turned it and the whole control arm moved, so it may be seized to the bushing. i should prolly try to break that free too while im at it.