its been 3 days now... im about to go crazy... my engine is ready to be dropped... but the last cradle bolt wont come out... she's stuck hard... wont spin or come out when hit hard with a hammer even... its the front passenger side bolt... anyone have great tips for a problem such as this? wd-40, liquid wrench and every single other solvent ive used has only left me weeping on the garage floor in frustration... i want to remove the cradle so i can start my 3.4 dtc swap! but alas... so close yet so far i have failed...

uhh anyways any tips?

-Seb Schrodt

I had one rusted solid like that.

I borrowed my neighbours 4 1/2 inch grinder and cut the head off either side. An air powered die grinder would work a little better. A little work with a pry bar will open up the frame channel enough to let the cradle drop.

Hope that helps

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His Fiero: 1984 2M4 Coupe

Her Fiero: 1984 2M4 Convertible

i may have to resort to cutting the head off the bolt... i did get the nut off but it still didnt move...

+ for you for the help!

any other ideas?

If you've got the nut off, try jacking up on the car in front of it (just enough to take off the tension) and try taking a hammer to it.. Got a breaker bar? a 4' one oughta do it

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 05-31-2004).]

ive got an engine hoist inder the rear... i thought to do that as well... but no matter where or how much or little i lift up it doesnt seem to help to relieve tension... are there metal bushings on the inside of the rubber that the bolt could have rusted to?

as for the breaker bar idea that i gave a whole day worth of effort in trying lol... the next was trying with an impact wrench... sadly that did no good either... i just ended up hurting myself... today i gave the attemp to remove the quarter panel and rocker panels so i could get a better longer swing at the bolt, sadly this changed nothing so i got a bigger hammer, also no good.

+ to you too for the help though!

bust out the grinder if its that bad its seized to the sleeve in the the cradle mounts the bad news is you are gonna have to replace that mount

you need to lift the car by the frame, such as the trunk cross member, not by the cradle. Then put a small jack under the cradle near the bolt. Raise it just slightly to lift the pressure off the bolt. put the nut back on the bolt to protect the threads, and use the biggest hammer you can get in there . Also try heating the bolt, but be careful not to set the bushing on fire. If you can get ahold of an impact chissel, use a flat bit (or a pushrod) and attack it with that, they work well. You might also try spinning the bolt a little, just toss a wrench on the head, and then a 2' or 3' piece of steel tube on the wrench, get on it good, and push as hard as possible, dont be afraid to break anything. With a 3' bar, you should be able to get several hundred ftlbs of force on it. My motto :If it dont move, hit it harder, if it breaks, it needed replaced anyway

I've had some stuck like you wouldnt beleve (or are experienceing ) and this has always worked, never had to cut one

[This message has been edited by 86GT3.4DOHC (edited 06-01-2004).]

The thing with that front passenger side mount is that it is located right below the battery! So when you need a battery tray, chances are that you will have a difficult time getting the bolt out. I broke a 18mm socket on one once, That was with the nut off of the other side! The bolt HAD to be cut off and the sleeve replaced with some drilled out 3/4" stock. Biggest PITA I have ever came across!