Hi guys,
just been out on the wifes 1.6 as i noticed the lower gearbox mount was shot.
got a new one for £18 from motex (much cheaper than the fleabay).
anyways, the bolt that goes though to the subframe, is it suppose to be immovable?
its so tight even three quaters of the way out the bolt has rounded completely.
has anyone successfully removed this poxy bolt, i fear that the bolt being stuck fast may make me need a new sub frame, if thats the case i will be scrapping the car.
this is how tight the bolt is, i had a knuckle bar with a 3 foot scaffold pole turning it very slowly before the bolt head went.
i fear that the bolt is going to snap and my last port is to weld a old socket to the head to remove it, any other ideas?

They are known to corrode and seize. Continually work the bolt in and out and use a penetrating oil such as PlusGas, WD40, Duck oil etc. Try to get the oil on top of the bolt so that it can drain down into the captive nut.

thanks mate, i already done that, i put a bucket load of pen oil on yesterday and more today, ive just purchased some stripped bolt removers and it hasnt budged.
im gona ring a garage on monday, but i have a feeling that she may have driven her last mile - im that f-@d off with it now.
no job on that car has been simple in all the years ive owned her....

Bad times Roy, say it ain't so! had any luck with the bolt? I should check mine reading this is just made even more paranoid about the 1.6!

ive just done this job and i had to use a 4foot breaker bar with a irwin bit on it and felt like my arms were about to drop off, rest assured a brand new bolt went in and it was sufficiently greased lol.

gave up, the car is in the garage now - i spent two days trying to remove the thing, leave it in the hands of the pros.
i think they are gona weld a nut to it and remove it that way.
how comes the easiest job is somehow turned into a complete nightmare!!
the car was supposed to be moted this afternoon and that job was the final job to be completed, oh well have to re book that.
i think the best way to remove these bolts is with an air gun, normal socket and knuckle bars are too weedy,

I wish I had spotted this post sooner! I've never replaced one of those bolts but I am well experienced in removing sheared bolts in all kinds of situations. If heat won't budge it then the most successful way I have found is to drill a hole right through the middle of the bolt using progressively bigger drills until you reach slighty smaller than the existing size. Sometimes it will loosen the remaining core and allow it to unscrew, but if not then run a tap of the correct size through and it will either turn the old bolt out or cut a new thread through it.

Another good method is an electric or air impact wrench. The hundreds of minute shocks almost always break the hold of the rust. I only have a cheap 12v impact wrench bought for about £20 off eBay and it works a treat.

Welding a nut to teh bolt can often work, but I suspect that is more down to the heat generated by the welder than anything else.

What you must never do (too late for you this time) is use much more force then the bolt is designed to take, this almost always shears the bolt.

well they done it, got the bolt out after welding another bolt to it, they said it was ultra tight and are not suprised i couldnt get it out.
he also said its not the first 1.6 gearbox stabilizer mount he had done, each one was in the same condition,
it cost me 30 quid for the pleasure, but they put in a new bolt and copper slipped the new one up so hopefully it should come out easily if need be in the future.
now i need to rebook the mot.
stress finally gone

conclusion, she just BLITZED the mot!!
i was rather suprised, and a car i was ready to scrap.
no advisorys either!!