Rear beam supporting bolts

[scjimbo]

Started stripping the rear end of my motor ready for the shiny new bits to go back on.

I've tried the biggest hammer I have to knock the bolts up into the car with no success.

Any suggestion greatfully received.

[scjimbo]

Anybody?

[Motorhole]

Tried squirting loads of penetrating fluid down the holes from inside the car?

[daimlerman]

At a wild guess,the bolt is corroded to the inner part of the bush.

This has not happened to me,yet,on both of my cars a good wack with a lump hammer saw the bolts flying around the car interior...they leave similar marks to stilleto heels in the head liner!

I would try Brian's method,a hole cutter into the rubber so that you can get the beam out of the way,then heat on the remains of the inner bush until it submits.

[scjimbo]

The beam has actually come loose from the bolt. Trouble is the bolts are not allowing me the room to get the beam off. I've dashed shed loads of wd40 down the holes under the seats. Ill try again on Monday.

Mind you it doesn't help that my jack handle broke causing me to crush my little finger. Nice blue nail now

[Andy325i]

Bigger hammer! Be careful not to damage the thread! Either use a lump of wood between hammer face and bolt, or have the nut on the end of the thread, or better do both!

[capri_rob]

Big-ass lumphammer and put a cushion over the hole inside the car to stop them flying about when they do let go

[scjimbo]

Right the little buggers have been stewing in wd40 for a couple of days. They are still fused at a molecular level to the rest of the car.

Are they actually a bolt in the true sense of the word. Ie do they have a hex head. If so I may try twisting them to free them a bit.

CIA

[Jim320i]

You wont be able to twist them as they have a section at the top to stop them from turning...

This is them out of the car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-Genui ... 3f25bd292e

If you scroll into the pictures in the description, you'll see what I mean.

Have you tried placing a jack underneath one and jacking the car up, that might be able to force it out... Make sure you have stands underneath though just incase it all goes wrong and you lose a leg


Also... The replacements can be bought through my ebay linked above

[Grrrmachine]

Get the seat cushion and carpet up, then use a sharp-tipped screwdriver to dig the masticky sealant out from the head of the bolt. Then get some 3-in-1 or WD 40 down the hole.

Now back under the car, make sure the support plate is removed (the one that bolts to the sill), then screw the nut back onto the bolt and start hitting upwards. If you really can't shift it, then get a jack directly under the bolt and try lifting the car with it. ONLY use this method if the car is still on all 4 wheels, and preferably with a jack stand solidly under the rear beam.

[scjimbo]

You wont be able to twist them as they have a section at the top to stop them from turning...

This is them out of the car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-Genui ... 3f25bd292e

If you scroll into the pictures in the description, you'll see what I mean.

Have you tried placing a jack underneath one and jacking the car up, that might be able to force it out... Make sure you have stands underneath though just incase it all goes wrong and you lose a leg


Also... The replacements can be bought through my ebay linked above

Tried that one boys. I can actually jack the car up on the bolts without the nuts on WTF? I'll try what GRRR said and have a dig around in the mastic.

Failing that I don't know what I'm going to do with them

[scjimbo]

You wont be able to twist them as they have a section at the top to stop them from turning...

This is them out of the car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-Genui ... 3f25bd292e

If you scroll into the pictures in the description, you'll see what I mean.

Have you tried placing a jack underneath one and jacking the car up, that might be able to force it out... Make sure you have stands underneath though just incase it all goes wrong and you lose a leg


Also... The replacements can be bought through my ebay linked above

Tried that one boys. I can actually jack the car up on the bolts without the nuts on WTF? I'll try what GRRR said and have a dig around in the mastic.

Failing that I don't know what I'm going to do with them

Following on. There is no mastic in the holes. One of the bolts has fully soaked and there is wd40 coming from the bottom of the car. The git still wont move though.

Answers on a postcard!!

[scjimbo]

Brutalized the crap out of them and they have come free. Cheers for the advice guys.