I started to replace my UCA this evening and ran into a problem with the two bolts on the chassis of the car on the forward mount plate. The bolts were very tight and would make a loud popping sound when I tried to remove them. The bolt did not turn, it would just pop. It was getting loose because I could turn the washers but I didn't know what exactly what was happening. I have never had a fastener do that before. It was almost like a nut turning inside a nutplate. I wasn't sure what was happening so I tightened it back up and it did the same thing , it really did not turn, it just popped but the bolt did get tight. I retorqued it back to 85 lb ft. and left it until i can find out what is going on.

Whatever the bolt screws into is not acessable either from inside the car or from underneath. I need help because I have no idea what is going on with the bolt. BTW, it did the same thing on both sides.

 

I can tell you that the bolt feels like it is tight untill it is almost all the way out.

 

The bolt wasn't turning in the conventional manner, it was just making a loud popping sound.

 

Its possible that the "fastener" (weld-nut) has broken just like a nutplate (do you work on airplanes?). But just what do you mean by it not turning?

 

Yeah, I don't think I understand either. How can the bolt get loose if it isn't turning??

 

Well it is difficult to explain. The bolt was very tight and I was using a 24inch breaker bar putting pressure on it, the bolt did not turn in the way a bolt usually turns when it is getting loose. It would just pop, like if something was slipping. The bolt had to be turning with each pop because after it popped 6-8 times I could see that the washers were loose. I can't see or acess the fastener the bolt screws into to see what is happening. Someone suggested that it may be the locktite breaking loose and that might be causing the popping sound. It is not turning easily or smooth like bolts usually do.

 

As long as it is loosening...keep going.

 

Did you remove all three bolts or just loosten them?

 

the noise is from being very tight and dry, almost to a binding point, get some sort of lubicant sprayed on there and that should help, mine were the same way, may have been the wrong threadloc put on are something, the noise is almost like fingernails on a chalkboard.

 

My noise was a loud popping sound. All I can see is the head of the bolt. I can't even see what the bolt screws into either from inside the trunk or from under the rear seat, so there isn't any way to get lubricant on whatever it is that the bolt screws into. It appears to be a trapped fastener.