[Vwdiesel] subframe update

[Chris Geiser]

Good point James... I ended up cutting the nut out in a way that I can weld
it or something similar back in its cage.

Even with the rectangular nut out now and in a vice, I have been unable to
free the bolt from it.  I think it's been melded together using "the
force"!!

Chris





On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 7:43 PM, James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net> wrote:

> You can cut three sides of a 1-1/2" square in the body sheetmetal above the
> nut and fold the body metal up and away to see the captured square nut in
> it's little tin cage, wrestle it out, and replace it with another.
> Easiest, and fastest fix for this.
> Skip weld the trapdoor shut with a mig after, prime and undercoat.
>
> This is a very common problem with these.  Salty moisture wicks up the
> bolt,
> rusts the friggin thing solid.  Worse is to have the nut break loose and
> spin as you're turning it "out", then the whole thing spins, and lefty
> doesn't loosie anymore.  At least you have stuff off, and can work at it
> easier. Trust me, it's a blessing that the bolt turned off rather than the
> nut break free and spin like a button on an outhouse door.
> -james
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]
> > On Behalf Of Chris Geiser
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 11:32 AM
> > To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > Subject: [Vwdiesel] subframe update
> >
>  > Update:  I found a replacement front subframe for my 92 Jetta (remember
> > old
> > one rusted out / cracked by drivers side control arm).  Got the old
> > subframe
> > out and off the car, but not without some attrition...
> >
> > The main bolt that holds the subframe to the frame twisted off on both
> > sides.  I used a breaker bar on one side slowly, and it twisted off.
> > So I
> > used an impact wrench on the other, and that still twisted off. They
> > are
> > bolts that goes through the subframe mounting arm and into the body,
> > where
> > there feels to be a nut that is held in place by some type of casing.
> > The
> > nut is inside the body but appears to be loose - not so loose that it
> > turns
> > through, but loose enough that I can turn the remaining bolt about
> > 1/6th of
> > a turn back and forth and wiggle it.  There's about an inch of the old
> > bolt
> > sticking out of the hole - I can get a vice grip on it, but no luck
> > getting
> > it free of the nut inside the body.  By pushing on it, I just appear to
> > be
> > loosening the nut in the body within it's housing rather than loosening
> > the
> > actual bolt shaft.
> >
> > I've sprayed PBblaster up into the area around the bolt remains while
> > wiggling side to side;  heated it; sprayed again; but still not free.
> > I'm
> > hesitant to crank any harder or I might free the nut in the body, or
> > break
> > off the bolt flush with the body... either of which are undesireable
> > outcomes.
> >
> > Advice?  Suggestions?  Anyone ever cut up this post on the body to see
> > what
> > I'm dealing with inside?
> >
> > thanks guys,
> >
> > Chris
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