Hi Guys, Had my XKR about 6 months now.

I've got it on the ramp as the steel subframes are pretty rusty, prob only got another few years left in them.

So I've been stripping it down last few weeks with a plan to powdercoat everything, zinc all the bolts and fit new bushes.

It's pretty much all stripped now just one bolt on the rear subframe!
The front right subframe buch bolt (about 8 inches long) is on (what feels like) a captive nut.
The nylon has caught and made the bolt tight, it's loose.
Form the feel I'm guessing this is a nut with a welded wing on. and now when I put any torque on the bolt it 'skips' over the tab so I cannot wind it out.
I've tried all non-destructive methods so far, but the torque required to move the bolt is too much and the nut keeps skipping.

The only thing I can think to do is to drill the head of the bolt off,
But this still leaves the problem of still needing to get the nut out.
I saw another thread on an older model where someone had cut behind the seats to get at the captive nut.
I was thinking maybe just drill around the hole from underneath to pull the tab out, put that probably won't work. maybe drill a hole somewhere else on the chasis to get

Has anyone had similar issues and how have you overcome this?
and where exactly would I need to cut to get access to the nut? assuming this is somewhere behind the rear seat, not the boot.

Really didn't fancy taking the interior out
Tell you what, they're definitely not DIY Friendly these cars, but man it sounds good!

some obligatory pics


Rusty Frame

Dyno Day, question about ride height coming soon! XKRS Bilsteins

 

well done hope to see the finished job

 

​​​Although the rust doesn't look good, it appears to only be surface rust. Could you not have stripped it down and repainted it?

 

These assembly line photos could help you determine whether the subframe fixing points are all in the luggage compartment or if the front two are under the rear seat.











Graham

 

While I would never tell anyone "don't fix rust" on such good-looking car, I too agree that what is shown in the picture is not alarming. Unless OP intends for this to be a show car, I would have just used oil-based under spray to prevent rust from getting worse.

To me, bad rust = welds giving out or there is a hole going through the part. Only then you have to get your oxy torch out and start working on it. Before then, it is optional.

 

My escalation approach: Step 1: soak it overnight, Step 2: use torch to heat it up and see if it budges then, Step 3: Use extractor bit, Step 4: weld a larger nut on top of it and bring out the pipe wrench (be careful, aluminum around it is like butter when you weld) Step 5: Drill it out

 

”Assembly line” looks more like a great weekend getaway.


Loves tinkering

 

That's the plan :thumbsup: the rear is worse, might needing repairing.
Also the suspension isn't as good as some others I test drove, so while I have the time and space currently, I thought by the time I'd got to the bushes I might aswell remove the subframe (man maths)
I'm not averse to a bit of automotive DIY, the only tool I've needed extra so far is a 36mm socket I only had 35mm!!!!
Oh and my engine support brace was 2" too short... so I made a new one.

Gonna tackle the bolt tomorrow.

Thanks graham, looking at the strut tower locations it's defo in behind the rear seats. I'm hoping I'll be able to get at it from another angle but we'll see.

 

Hey guys this jobs progressing and have another question that I'm struggling to find the answer to on google

Can someone tell me on the rear sub-frame front/lower bushes there is an aluminium disc does this sit above or below the bush?
I've fitted it as (from top down) Car body, aluminium disc, Bush, K frame. but I'm unsure if its not car body, bush, disc k frame, or even car body, bush, k frame, disc? why this disc!!
I stupidly should have took note!

thanks in advance!

this bush from the service manual:


I've got some other pics of the powder coating and stuff, Just uploading them now so will share.

Oh and I got that last bolt out with a good old fashioned grinder!
Cut the head off with a hacksaw blade (ages) removed the subframe, cut the rest of the long bolt flush with the body.
Luckily behind the subframe is a little window where they put in the captive nut, i managed to split the two halves and get each peice out through the window
Once the captive nut was in the vice then it came out easy peasy.
Got pretty lucky with this could have been much much worse!