jdubdds24

So I’m in the process of replacing suspension components On my 2009 4S. I’m not a newbie mechanic as I’ve done quite a bit of work on this car and many others. I already replaced the other three corners yet on the right rear I had a very stubborn problem. The lower control arm bolt was either overtorqued or galled. I was using regular box wrenches then I had to switch to a breaker bar. Nothing. I got my Milwaukee impact in there and nothing. I was confused as all the other control arms and all the other suspension bolts came out just fine. Some were tight but nothing out of the ordinary. So I gave it one more go with the breaker bar and...success! The bolt turned!!! Only problem was it loosened in the worst possible way...the suspension subframe tore...yay. $800 for a new one. Never had to replace one of those. Any tips or tricks for that? The bolt is still in. I had to laugh and walk away.

All other suspension parts are off. The knuckle is only being held up by the LCA and axle and its resting on some boxes to keep it level. The bracket tore. Impressive.

Time for a new suspension sub frame.

rtl5009

You were wrenching on the wrong side of that eccentric……..

jdubdds24

I tried using the 18mm on the right side and couldn’t get that to budge at all. I didn’t have any issue on the driver side!
Expensive mistake.

aaks38

RTL is right, I recently adjusted the toe, and could only do it by loosening the nut on the opposing side of the eccentric head. Once that is loosened the eccentric washer will rotate very easily.

Petza914

Ouch.

jdubdds24

Ive never seen a bolt with the washer all one piece. It was an expensive mistake, but a fixable one. Just throwing this up to show the failures. I've been wrenching on all my cars for years and this is the first true mistake ive made that required more than cutting off a rusty nut. Hope it helps someone down the line. Wasnt aware of eccentric bolts or anythign else like that. Already ordered the new part. Not everything goes to plan when you're DIY'ing it.

Wayne Smith

I appreciate your positive attitude on this and thank you for sharing.

shyamvenky

So the general guidance is to always work on the nut side and just hold the bolt side, correct?

Saaboteur

That should be the process, otherwise you could bugger up the eccentric bolt. I managed to mess up the eccentric bolts on my 955 Cayenne years ago in this fashion.

aaks38

Yes once you loosen the nut on the opposing side, you can then rotate the eccentric nut and physically observe the control arm slide to the left or right to get the toe out or toe in. After you set the toe, you have to hold the eccentric nut with a open end wrench and then torque the opposing side nut down.