So I took my car in for alignment and I got some bad news. The bolts which adjust the camber and castor are seized up so bad they cant loosen them to do the alignment.

Anyways, if there is a smart person out there who can possibly help, which control arms do I need to replace to have this alignment done? Im trying to get a ball park figure together so I can budget the cash flow. Which is it? Uppers or Lowers?

They said it was seized up so bad the bushing was spinning in place.

 

Caster adjustment is done with the adjustment bolts on the subframe and camber adjustment with the lower control.arm

 

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/875...#entry20728016

 

which shop did you go to? I could be wrong but isnt there a cheaper way to fix the problem?

 

Did the shop try and use a torch on the bolts? It's very rare to have bolts completely seized. My usual method for releasing very stubborn bolts is to drench it in liquid wrench for half an hour to loosen any surface rust. Apply heat to the HOLE (not the bolt) until it's nice and hot. A few "love taps" with a mallet and some solid wrenching and the bolt should break free.

I sincerely think replacing control arms is the last resort. Get someone with some mechanical know how who is local on this forum to help you out. Sometimes shops are just lazy and since alignments are a "one time fee" and not an hourly rate, they just don't care enough to wrench on your car more than they have to.

 

Ya usually those bolts dont seize on our cars. Torching and liquid wrench should do the trick, unless of course this was a flood recovery vehicle purchased in United states. Thats a totally different story.

 

try shocking the bolt. torch it then spray water on it with a spray bottle... then quickly give it a smack with the wrench. It should loosen up.

Do not liquid wrench and then torch. You don't want to breath that crap in.

 

^^ are the fumes really that bad? I've not done that procedure for a while and not too often but didn't know it was all that dangerous?

 

Reapur was giving me details on the situation... He suggested to the guys at the shop that they heat up the bolt. However, they told him that they can't heat it up due to the bushing surrounding the bolt. How much heat can those things take? I am honestly suspect about this too...

 

I was told one of my caster bolts was seized by the (I think) same shop

edit: yes it was the same shop as reapur and Seymor Butts - it starts with an S.. Very disappointing