Frustrated, Need Help/Advice Trailing arm Bushing Removal (Bolt)

[lOOkatme]

Alright, I consider myself pretty mechanically inclined. I have done suspension work and built an RX7, and Prelude.

I am changing my rear trailing arm bushings myself. I have the nuts off the rear trailing arm bushing bolts, but I cannot get the passenger side bolt out. It is hitting the gas tank and has the entire threaded portion to go. So probably another 3/4" to inch. Keep in mind the bolt is at an angle to the gas tank. I still have the shocks bolted up and could easily remove them if needed but I don't see how this could help much? I removed the drivers side trailing arm bolt and it is just hanging there. I am using the jack to try and manipulate the bolt to get a little better angle to remove the bolt out if needed, but no luck.

Should I remove the lower bolts on the shocks and try to manipulate more? Any tricks of removing the passenger side trailing arm bolt? Anyone else experience this problem? Do I need to take more extreme measures and dent the gas tank a little to remove the bolt? I am getting frustrated, cause this car isn't exactly a high quality easy to work on car.


Rant below

I even have had a tough time breaking the bolts on the lower control arm since I am replacing that. And the top strut....had to order a special tool to get a 19MM nut loose while holding the strut rod at the same time. This car makes all other cars I have worked on look like brilliant robust designs.

[lOOkatme]

Alright, I guess I need to remove the floor board bolts when reading another thread. Are these bolts accessible from the bottom of the car or from the trunk?

[petrified.rabbit]

the should be on the bracket going up into the floor. and yes, you need to remove those.

[lOOkatme]

Alright, dropped the bracket and all is good in the rear.

I am now going to replace the front lower control arms. I have the front bolt loose, and I need to remove the tie rod.

I am having a hell of a time removing the two rear bolts that go through a bushing into the welded on nut. I snapped a 1/2" 17MM socket already.

So should I try the freeze off spray stuff? or go straight to the heat with map gas?

[petrified.rabbit]

if you heat the nut side, heat typically works. since your replacing the bushing there is no harm in using the heat.

[lOOkatme]

I took the car in to get the front A arm two vertical bolts out. The bolts are seized to the bushing and are being cut off. I replaced the rear bushings in the trailing arm and wasn't too bad. Hacksawing the sleeves out of the trailing arms is a f-ing b-tich though. I give this car the title of being a huge PITA to work on.