Trying to get bolt out that goes through bush of swing arm to consol bracket and its a nightmare. Was very stiff and creaky when first undone slightly so been soaking it in everything I got and managed to get it out so far but its seizing if I try anymore. Can wind it back in again but seem to have hit a spot it wont come out any further and dont want to strip alloy threads. So far been soaked in wd40, penetrating oil, Diesel/ATF mix and engine oil with white spirit and its not making any difference. Does anyone have any ideas. Been at it for hours. Tried some heat with a heat gun but wary of propane torch as its a petrol car and I have a lot of lubricant everywhere. Was thinking of removing consol bracket and soaking but swing arm bolt goes through subframe so wouldnt be able tor remove complete without removing subframe. Any help or pointers welcome.

Alasdair

Don't say I didn't warn you.

I had to shear the bolt to get mine apart, then bought a whole new console with bush pre-fitted.

Yep you did say so but large bush is gone on one side and other side is almost gone plus swing arms in sorry state. Advise on the last two MOT which is up again in about a week. Managed to get it I reckon 1/4 to 1/3 out which took me most of today. Using spanner so I dont get it seized to much but hand wont work anymore tonight. Soaked it yesterday and today. Have tried a bit of heat with a heat gun to see if it will help oil etc travel but what a nightmare. Don't like the look of the bolts that hold the consol to chassis either. Might resort to blow torch tomorrow. Dont think I have stripped threads yet as it goes back in with slight bit of resistance but not too bad and tightens up ok. Reckon its just more time and a bit of luck. Finding a 50/50 mix of engine oil and white spirit is working best of all.

Alasdair

Don't think anything will free it now as there'll be loads of aluminium oxide and aluminium metal clogging up the threads, and no way to remove. Hope I'm wrong.

The bolts that hold the console on go into steel of chassis, rather than alloy, so won't suffer the same galling.

If you do try to shear the front console bolt that's stuck, I did it with long, multiple extensions on a good 6-point 18mm socket, long enough to fit a 2' breaker bar to in front of the car, then applied a really surprising amount of force persistently before the bolt broke. Sweaty job.