92RS shearn

What is the brace ontop of the panhard bar called? I am working on replacing the fuel pump. I removed this brace yesterday but I was fored the cut the head and tail of the bolt on the passenger side to remove it. I need to replace the bushing and all now bu have no idea what the thing is called to start my search.

Thanks

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Panhard brace or technically track bar brace.

JamesC

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iTrader: (14)

there is no bushing in the upper panhard brace/bar. Its a solid mount, that piece does not move, it just strengthens the panhard mount on the passenger-side of the car.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

If your talking about a bushing in the brace, I bet your talking about the panhard bar, not the brace of THAT.

Got a pic?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Missed the bushing business. As mentioned, none involved:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...d-dsc00274.jpg

JamesC

92RS shearn

Ah, well crap. Now how am I supposed to get the rest of that bolt out of the upper brace? I guess I can try and drill it out but this is not going to be fun.

I thought it was just a bushing that I could cut out and replace.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

you cant beat it out with a pin or another bolt or something?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Any other ideas for removal. Along with plenty of PB Blaster, I've tried a four-pound sledge on the thread side, an air gun on the head side as well as a huge breaker bar--and cold chisel/four-pound slege combo. I couldn't get my air hammer to work. At any rate, I've yet to make any impression on the bolt at all.

JamesC

92RS shearn

I used a 4 pound sledge and some heat to get it loosened. After that I put it in the bench vice and squeezed it out. The whole time I was squeezing it out I had the MAP torch on the center section where the bolt is. Eventually it came out. Ordered a new bolt from the dealer for $2.

If you cut it out like I did make sure you push it out the head side since the bolt tapers and will not go out the other way!

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Been considering drilling a hole in the center section, flooding the hole with PB Blaster, then using a punch to loosen the rust there before whacking the heck out of it again. Is the bolt the same size as the sleeve or a bit smaller (I ordered the bolt from GM, but it won't be in until tomorrow)?

JamesC

92RS shearn

The bolt is pretty snug and that sleeve tapers so you can't put it in the wrong way and the larger section of the bolt will not go through the slender section of the sleeve.

If you have a torch, use it on the sleeve without reserve and pound the crap out of it from the thread side. It was the only thing that allowed me to get the thing to budge.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The best I have on hand is a bottle torch, which probably doesn't produce the kind heat I need.

JamesC

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

You could do like I did on an intake manifold I did once, when the head snapped off.

I drilled the center of the bolt out, then stepped up in the drill bit sizes, until I was close the the close threads, but careful not to actually hit & damage then. Then I used a pick to clean out the bolt thread pieces.

Be careful not to drill fully through your bolt though & get metal bits in the cooling system.

I got the broken bolt out & just got a new intake bolt to use.

Not the easiest way, but it worked & damaged nothing (besides what was left of the broken bolt).

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Interesting development: As you say, the bolt will only go through from one direction. With the OE piece currently in place that puts the bolt head on the spring side. With the new brace, the direction is reversed so that the head is on muffler side.

JamesC

92RS shearn

Hmm sounds like a mistake was made with the new brace. Now you are going to have to drill out the muffler side hole that is on the car and the spring side of the bolt will not have a very tight fit.

Why did you buy a new brace anyway? I cleaned mine up and painted it with por-15 since I had it out.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

In a foolish moment I purchased the Granatelli piece, which turned out to be a boxed, powder-coated OE version. The piece is advertised as fitting 82-02 Camaros. I wonder now if the fourthgens are different. At any rate, I've contacted Granatelli for return. We'll see what happens.

JamesC